Terence Flanagan
Question:460. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health his plans to reduce consultants fees, and pay, within the public sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5719/15]
View answerTuesday, 24 February 2015
Questions (460)
Written answers
Consultant Contract 2008 sets out the relative volume of private practice that may be undertaken by consultants, depending on the individual contract held. Depending on contract type, a consultant may have no access to private practice (Type A contract holders), a cap of 20% private activity for newly appointed consultants (Type B) or a cap of up to 30% in the case of certain existing consultants.
The level of fees charged by a consultant who sees a patient privately is a matter between the consultant and the patient. The fees arising may be met personally by the patient concerned, by the patient's health insurer, or a combination of the two depending on the extent, if any, to which the patient has insurance cover for the service provided. I have no authorisation to set or adjust the fees that consultants charge in their private capacity.
Significant steps have been taken to make savings from hospital consultants pay in recent years. The salary scales for new entrant consultants' were reduced by 10% with effect from 1 January 2011. A further reduction of 30% was applied to these scales for those interviewed for posts on or after 1 October 2012. However, this later reduction has been restored to a significant degree, pursuant to a related recommendation by the MacCraith Group. In addition, on 1 July 2013 consultants' pay was reduced in line with the provisions of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2013.
An essential component of the approach to addressing the State’s fiscal difficulties has been the firm focus on improving public service efficiency and effectiveness. Consultants have been subject to changes in work practices under the Public Service Agreement and the HRA. These include the range of flexibilities agreed at the LRC in September 2012 to enhance productivity and efficiency and the additional hours under the HRA. I have no plans to reduce consultant pay any further.