Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 May 2020
888. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of negotiations with hospital consultants regarding public use of private hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5435/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI, officials of my Department and HSE management have engaged with the consultants representative bodies concerning public use of the private hospitals and related matters.
The contract being offered, a TYPE A 'Public Only' contract, was finalised last month and has been made available to consultants who had been working in the private hospitals. The most recent data submitted to my Department shows that 320 consultants have signed up to the contract to date with a further 61 identified as being likely to, subject to clarifications around a small number of outstanding issues.
Most recently, I had a meeting with the IHCA and a number of the private hospital consultants last Friday at which a number of the remaining issues were discussed with a view to optimising arrangements to support the delivery and continuity of care for all patients as public patients.
