David Cullinane
Ceist:1435. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for fully removing private healthcare from public hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29080/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 14 June 2022
Ceisteanna (1435)
Freagraí scríofa
A Public Only Consultant Contract is a key step in the move towards universal, single-tier healthcare, with public hospitals exclusively used for the treatment of public patients, including private patients opting to go public, as envisaged in the Sláintecare Report.
As recommended by the Independent Review Group established to examine the removal of private healthcare from the public system, this will be achieved through the appointment of all future consultant doctors in the public health service to a contract that allows only public activity in public sites. Over time, as existing consultants with rights to private practice retire and are replaced with a public-only consultant, private activity rates will reduce and be replaced with increased public activity.
The Government is committed to introducing the public-only consultant contract in a timely manner. It is intended that the Contract will be introduced following engagement with the representative bodies, the IMO and the IHCA. When the date of implementation of the new Contract is set, the new consultant contract will apply to all consultant appointment offers from that date.