Press release
Ministers for Health and Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform Announce New Sláintecare Contract for Consultants
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
Minister for Health Simon Harris TD and Minister for Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform Paschal Donohoe TD have today (18 December) announced a new Sláintecare contract for consultants.
From Q2 2020, all future consultant appointments will be to the new Sláintecare Consultant contract which requires consultants employed by the State to focus 100% of their time on public-only work.
Private practice will not be permitted under this new contract and this is central to this reform.
Reflecting this change, the Sláintecare contract will be offered at increased pay levels of up to €222,460, rising further to €252,150 by July 2022.
These new contractual arrangements will apply to new entrants only. Existing consultants will be offered the opportunity to switch to the new proposed contract but will retain the option to remain on their existing contract.
Minister Harris TD said:
“Today is a landmark day for patients in Ireland. Moving towards single-tier public hospital care will mean a fairer health service, a more sustainable and efficient hospital service, and shorter waiting times.
“This will take time, but we are committing to hiring 1,885 consultants between now and 2030 on public-only contracts. This will deliver better value for money and will unlock the vision set out in Sláintecare. This will give a net increase of 1,000 consultants by 2030."
Minister Donohoe added:
“This a generational opportunity to reform the way hospital care is delivered in Ireland.
"Requiring consultants to focus on public-only work is a significant reform and the increased rates of pay being announced reflect that. The De Buitléir Report on removing private practice from public hospitals, on which these measures are based, shows that the rates of pay that we are applying to the new Sláintecare contract compare very favourably in international terms. I hope that the hospital consultant representative organisations will get behind this reform in the public interest which is key to delivering on the vision of Sláintecare.
"Changes to how we manage and deliver public healthcare cannot achieve their full potential so long as senior healthcare decision-makers devote part of their time and focus to private business activities. That is why this reform is key. This reform together with the additional recruitment Government will fund over the coming years will help to deliver real improvements for patients who depend on our public health system.”
Minister Harris concluded:
“I look forward to consulting with all relevant stakeholders on the roll out of the Sláintecare contract early in the New Year as we take the important next steps on the journey to single-tier public hospital care.”
ENDS