Fostering consultant innovation  

January is always a difficult month for the health service. Hospitals are under sustained pressure, emergency departments are crowded, and clinical teams are stretched by winter illness, staffing gaps, and rising demand.

While it can be easy to focus on the negatives, it is important to remember, especially during periods like this, some of the positive developments taking place.

For instance, a provision in the public-only consultant contract (POCC) seeks to support consultants to develop and implement ideas that improve patient care and service delivery on the frontline.

All consultants employed under the POCC are entitled to access an annual fund to support innovation projects, research, and new ways of working. The purpose is simple: To give consultants the resources to turn good ideas into real, deliverable improvements within the health system.

A feature in this issue of the Medical Independent shows that engagement with the consultant innovation fund (CIF) has been increasing since it was introduced in 2024.

Applications rose from 212 in 2024 to 365 in 2025. Of these, 194 were approved in 2024, and 265 in 2025.

This engagement is expected to rise further in 2026.

To date, funded projects have covered a broad range of areas, including service redesign and pathway optimisation – such as one-stop clinics and streamlined referral systems – as well as digital and technology-enabled care.

The CIF is allocated to consultants to spend on innovation activity within their own clinical setting or in partnership with colleagues in other services.

In terms of funding, individual consultants can access up to €8,000 per calendar year, rising to €12,000 where unused continuing medical education funding is included. Funding can also be pooled with other consultants or through Spark-led funding calls for larger projects.

While leadership sits with the consultant, projects must be supported by the relevant clinical director, executive clinical director, or line manager. According to the HSE, this sign-off is needed to ensure that the project aligns with organisational priorities and can be implemented and sustained.

Applications are submitted through a dedicated online portal and are supported by the HSE Spark Programme. The Spark team provides advice on innovation practice, regulation and implementation within HSE systems. They can also support projects with design input, research guidance and planning for spread and scale, helping consultants strengthen their proposals and avoid common pitfalls.

Once funding is transferred, projects are live, with support and check-ins provided throughout the year.

For 2026, changes have been introduced to address challenges identified by consultants in previous years, including delays in fund transfers and limited time to use funds.

A pre-submission deadline of 16 January 2026 has been set to allow for early feedback, with a final application deadline of 3 April 2026. Fund transfers will take place in February, April, and May, in order to provide more realistic timelines for implementation.

Taken together, the CIF offers a practical way to support frontline clinicians to improve how care is delivered, even during periods of high pressure. By backing locally-led ideas with meaningful resources, improvements can be made which are grounded in everyday clinical experience. In a system under sustained strain, the CIF demonstrates how modest, well-targeted investment can enable improvements in everyday clinical care.

Taken together, the CIF offers a practical way to support frontline clinicians
to improve how care is delivered, even during periods of high pressure