Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 October 2013
227. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce changes to the contract arrangements pertaining to consultant doctors in order to facilitate practice in the private sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45307/13]
View answerI have no plans to pursue changes to the consultant contract in order to facilitate practice in the private sector.
Consultant Contract 2008 introduced a series of measures designed to improve equity for public patients, including limits on private practice. This Contract included specified upper limits to private practice activity of 20% for newly-appointed consultants on a Type B or C contract and 30% for consultants who held a contract prior to 2008. Consultants holding a Type A contract are limited to public practice. Under the Public Service Agreement, following negotiations at the LRC in September 2012, health service employers and the two consultant representative bodies agreed a range of measures to support improved patient care, including consultant compliance with the limits on private practice activity.
