Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 February 2022
262. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if private patients will be treated in the new national children’s hospital; if so, the level of clinical space this would represent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10422/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government commits to finalising the new Sláintecare consultant contract and to legislating for public-only work in public hospitals.
Currently, as part of the Common Contract for Consultants negotiated in 2008, many consultants holding specific contracts are entitled to engage in private outpatient practice outside of their public commitment. ?Pending the removal of private practice from public hospitals as provided for in Sláintecare, the new children's hospital is obliged to provide such facilities for consultants holding these contracts.
Accordingly, while the vast majority of services in the new children’s hospital will be public services, within the new hospital an area has been planned which carries the designation of "private clinic". The private outpatient clinic space at the new children’s hospital represents circa 0.25% of the clinical space within the new children’s hospital. All clinical outpatient spaces, whether designated as public or private, are to the same specification.
It is important to say that the capacity being planned for the new children’s hospital is national capacity based upon the assessment of healthcare needs and future demographic developments. Accordingly, these clinic rooms will be required to meet the estimated demand for paediatric outpatient and inpatient services, whether publicly or privately provided.
