The consultant type C committee is to remain in place, but the HSE will continue “encouraging” existing consultants to take up the new Sláintecare contract, this newspaper has been informed.
Last month, the national meeting of the IMO consultant committee passed a motion calling on the HSE to ensure “that no consultant is pressurised to transfer” to the new contract and that “contractual rights under current and existing contracts are fully honoured”.
Views were also expressed that the type C committee should continue to meet despite the introduction of the new contract.
The purpose of the type C committee, which was established in accordance with the provisions set out in the consultant contract 2008, is to make recommendations to the HSE on applications for type C posts. Consultants with type C contracts may engage in on-site and off-site private practice. Their inpatient and outpatient private practice activity in the public hospital is subject to the 20 per cent maximum limit.
The HSE confirmed that the type C committee
“will continue to exist for consultants who continue
to be employed under the terms of the 2008 consultants’ contract”.
The spokesperson said figures on how many consultants have taken up the new contract “will be available in due course”. The new contract became “operational” on 8 March and all new consultant contract offers will be made on the basis of this contract.
According to the HSE, “a number” of new contracts “have already issued throughout the health services”.
“However, it is early days in the implementation of the contract and the number of consultants employed on the terms [of the new contract] will naturally increase over time.”
Asked if the HSE had targets for how many consultants it would like to see take up the new contract, the spokesperson said all “existing consultants may transition” to the new contract.
“The HSE has written to all consultant staff to give information about the new contract, including its background, what it aims to achieve from a services perspective and some of the key benefits for them. The HSE is encouraging existing consultants to take up [the new contract] and is providing as much information as possible to help inform their decisions in this regard.”
Caveat Emptor, existing consultants who have a long working life ahead of them should reflect very carefully before making any change to their existing terms and conditions. Prior to signing or applying for any new post they would be strongly advised to to get an objective and unbiased opinion from their representative body as a significant number of issues were not resolved with the employer who chose to shut down the process.