There cannot be one rule for the Rotunda and one rule for every other public hospital
The Health Minister must hold firm and ensure the Rotunda agrees to abide by State policy before sitting down to a meeting with its representatives, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Pádraig Rice.
Deputy Rice, who is chair of the Oireachtas Health Committee, said:
“I welcome the strong stance taken by the Minister on this issue. There cannot be one rule for the Rotunda and one rule for every other public hospital.
“The public-only consultant contract was a landmark reform which is critical to the implementation of Sláintecare and the development of a single-tier public healthcare system that delivers the best quality care to everyone.
“It is outrageous that the Rotunda is attempting to unilaterally unpick this contract and breach the terms of its service-level agreement with the HSE, which funds the hospital to the tune of 90%.
“It is also incorrect and inaccurate to state that the Rotunda is doing this to ensure patients can still opt for private medical care. There are 18 consultants in the hospital who are still providing that private care.
“What is at issue here is a consultant, believed to be just one consultant, who signed up to provide public-only care in the Rotunda for an increased salary – now wanting to have the best of both worlds. The enhanced salary of the public-only contract plus the ability to do private work.
“In those circumstances, it is only right that the Minister demand the hospital, and its consultants, abide by the terms of legal agreements they have voluntarily entered into before she meets them. This is the bare minimum we should expect of them and the Minister must hold firm on this issue.
“I firmly believe that every woman in this country should have choice and continuity of care in maternity services. This will only be achieved if consultants, who are paid to do public-only work, abide by the terms of their contracts.
“Sláintecare represents a seismic reform of our healthcare system that has now been nearly ten years in the making. It requires a universal, single-tier health service being delivered.
“Given Sláintecare had cross-party support across the Oireachtas, I hope every party and political group will speak out against this rearguard action by the Rotunda to undermine it.”