HSE verification exercise finds ‘no ongoing’ private practice breaches

All HSE regions have provided assurances that private practice in public settings has ceased in accordance with the terms of the public-only consultant contract (POCC), the Medical Independent (MI) has learned.

The assurances were made by the health regions following a verification exercise by the HSE regarding the implementation of the contract across public hospitals.

The exercise specifically concerned compliance with Clause 24 of the contract, which prohibits consultants from conducting private practice or care during their public service hours or inside public hospitals, unless explicit permission has been granted.

According to information provided by HSE National Human Resources in response to a Freedom of Information (FoI) request, the exercise found that previously reported non-compliant service arrangements “had discontinued”.

All regions provided assurance that private practice in public settings “had ceased in accordance with the terms of the contract”.

“Accordingly, no breaches or non-compliances were identified at the conclusion of this verification exercise,” according to the FoI response.

A HSE spokesperson told MI the verification exercise began on 24 March, “with information requested and guidance provided.”

“Further to receipt of the information and clarifications required, the full analysis and reporting concluded in August.”

The statement comes following a number of reported breaches of the POCC highlighted in recent months, including in St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin; Cork University Maternity Hospital; and the Rotunda Hospital, Dublin.

In June, it was also reported that a HSE audit found that the POCC had not led to a significant increase in consultant rostering for evening and weekend work.

According to information provided through FoI, 70 per cent of hospital consultants were working under the POCC. The data, correct as of 29 July, showed that HSE Dublin and North East had the highest proportion of POCC consultants at 76 per cent. HSE Mid West recorded the lowest proportion at 53 per cent.

Some 68 per cent of consultants in HSE Dublin and Midlands were working under the contract, compared with 67 per cent in HSE Dublin and South East, 68 per cent in HSE South West, and 73 per cent in HSE West and North West.

The data, provided by HSE National Doctors Training and Planning, related to a total of 5,059 POCC consultants.