Type A contract change process may continue

The HSE has confirmed that the temporary arrangement to allow consultants to change to public-only (type A) contracts could continue until the end of the Covid-19 crisis.

On 19 July, the National Director of Human Resource Ms Anne Marie
Hoey sent a circular to senior management on revised arrangements for change in contract requests during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ms Hoey confirmed Department of Health approval for the further extension of the current private hospital agreement, which had ended on 30 June, to 30 September 2021.

As a result of the extension, Ms Hoey said the recent approval process for a consultant to change to the type A contract using the ‘Covid-19 request to change contract template’ remained in place.

Such submissions should be made to the Hospital Group CEO/Chief Officer for approval.

Where a change in contract was approved, a letter should be issued to the consultant for their signature, and then attached to their original consultant contract.
With regard to the duration of the contract change, a previous circular had provided that the temporary change to contract type A could continue until the cessation of the public health emergency caused by Covid-19.

“Given the extension approved by the Department of Health, those consultants who have already availed of a contract change, may continue on their type A contracts until at least the end of September 2021.

“I will write regarding the termination of these temporary changes in contracts when the Minister of Health confirms that the arrangement should cease. Alternatively, those consultants who availed of a change in contract may advise their Hospital Group CEO/Chief Officer of their intention to revert to their original contract type.”

This derogation only applied to consultants requesting to change to the type A contract.

For any other request for a change in contract type, the current process outlined in section 22 of the consultant contract 2008 remained in place.