Variation in take-up of public-only consultant contract - data

A significant majority of Irish hospital consultants, 69%, now work under the 2023 Public-Only Consultant Contract (POCC), according to new data from the Department of Health. This contract mandates that consultants exclusively treat public patients within public hospitals, a key measure intended to boost the number of available consultants for public healthcare.

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69% of all hospital consultants are now working the 2023 Public-Only Consultant Contract (POCC), which requires them to exclusively treat public patients in public hospitals.

The POCC is a central component of Sláintecare, a national initiative designed to dismantle the "two-tiered" healthcare system prevalent in public hospitals. The contract offers a salary range of €233,527 to €280,513.

However, the adoption rate of the POCC shows considerable disparity across various healthcare facilities and regions. University Hospital Limerick reports the lowest take-up among large teaching hospitals, with only 45% of its consultants on the contract. In contrast, Beaumont Hospital leads with an 83% adoption rate, while the Mater Hospital and St James's Hospital also show high figures at 82%. Other major teaching hospitals like University Hospital Waterford and University Hospital Galway have a 73% rate.

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It is a key pillar of Sláintecare, which seeks to end the "two-tiered" healthcare in public hospitals.

This variation extends to "model 3" hospitals, which provide localized emergency and surgical care. Midlands Regional Hospital, Portlaoise, has a 46% adoption rate, while Mercy University Hospital in Cork and Cavan General Hospital stand at 54% and 55% respectively. University Hospital Kerry boasts the highest rate among this group at 89%.

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less than half, or 45%, of all consultants are working the public-only contract, the lowest take-up of the large teaching hospitals

Maternity hospitals also exhibit a lower overall adoption, with only 44% of obstetricians and gynecologists on the POCC, though anaesthetists, radiologists, and psychiatrists show near-universal uptake (91-100%). Regionally, HSE Mid-West has a 51% adoption rate, while HSE Dublin Northeast leads at 74%.

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83% of consultants are now working the POCC