Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 September 2020
773. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health when the anomaly of inferior terms and conditions offered to consultants in public health in comparison to the conditions of hospital consultants will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26323/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraConsultant status for public health specialists as recommended in the Crowe Horwath Report on the Specialty is an immediate priority. It is also consistent with the role envisaged for the specialists in Sláintecare and Professor Scally’s Report on the National Screening Service ('CervicalCheck') under a new public health framework.
I, my Department and the HSE are committed to the early introduction of a new framework for public healthcare, as provided for in the Programme for Government, and to the framework incorporating consultant status for public health specialists. While finalisation of the future framework was paused in the context of Covid-19, addressing the pandemic has accelerated the implementation of many of the Crowe Horwath recommendations.
The specialty is already working - and leading out - the operationalisation of a very different operational model in response to the pandemic from that which was previously in place; the role of the public health doctor has transitioned very rapidly from one of leading small confined teams, to now leading and directing the activities of a very broad range of organisations and large multidisciplinary teams and the workforce has been diversified to a level not previously envisaged. This reform will continue when the Pandemic Framework, currently the immediate priority for the HSE, is finalised.
Teams are now in place in my Department and the HSE working on a related business case for submission to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform seeking consultant status and remuneration and this will be completed and submitted as soon as possible. We will also continue to engage with the IMO over the coming weeks. There is an amount of work to be completed and we are committed to progressing this as a priority.
