Consultants on public contracts told to 'immediately' stop taking fees to treat private maternity patients

A circular from the HSE HR manager directs consultants who signed public-only contracts to stop taking private fees and to cease private practice on site immediately. The directive applies to mandatory application of public-only contract terms. Approval for any on-site private practice is valid only when expressly granted by both the HSE and the Department of Health. Hospital boards, hospital managers, or clinical directors do not have authority to permit private practice under these circumstances. The Rotunda Hospital is identified as the only maternity hospital where consultants on the contract also engage in private practice. The National Maternity Hospital and the Coombe Hospital confirm compliance with the contract terms.

"The circular was issued by the human resources (HR) manager of the HSE, Anne Marie Hoey, and follows confirmation earlier this week by the Rotunda Hospital master Prof Sean Daly that consultants on the public-only contract were still treating private patients. In the circular from the HSE issued today Ms Hoey said the purpose is to "issue a clear directive" on the mandatory application of the consultants public -only contract. There should be a "cessation of private practice on site " by public only consultants, she said."

"Approval to treat private patients is only valid where it has been expressly granted by both the HSE and the Department of Health, she added. Any doctor on the contract can only have on-site private practice with the written approval from both the HSE and the Department of Health, the circular said. Boards, hospital mangers or clinical directors in a hospital do not have authority to allow private practice in this circumstance."

"The Rotunda Hospital is the only maternity hospital where hospital consultants on the contract are also involved in private practice. The National Maternity Hospital and the Coombe Hospital in Dublin have confirmed their consultants on this contract are complying with these terms. Prof Daly told the Oireachtas committee earlier this week it was continuing private practice for issues of patient choice and also safety."

"He said the decision was made by the board of the Rotunda - which is State funded - without the agreement of the HSE or the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. The Irish Independent reported that National Maternity Hospital Prof Jennifer Walsh said a derogation should be given to consultants on the public-only contract in maternity hospitals to continue private practice ."

Read at Irish Independent