Hospital Consultant Contracts

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 September 2014

Wednesday, 17 September 2014

Questions (906)

Joe O'Reilly

Question:

906. Deputy Joe O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health in respect of a private consultant who works in a public hospital, the percentage of their patients that can be private; the percentage of the income that they earn from private patient consultations that is given back to the hospital in which they work; the overall percentage of moneys owing by private consultants that has been collected by the general hospital sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33435/14]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The percentage of private patients that can be seen by a consultant in a public hospital depends on the type of consultant contract held. Type A contract holders have no access to private practice. For those consultants with access to private practice within public hospitals, the volume of private practice may not exceed 20% of the Consultants clinical workload in any of his or her clinical activities, including in-patient, day-patient and out-patient. I have referred the Deputy's other queries to the HSE for direct reply.