Number of consultants on new contract breaks 60 per cent

Over 60 per cent of consultants in the public health service now hold the public-only consultant contract (POCC), according to new figures.

As of the end of September, 4,492 whole-time equivalent (WTE) consultants were working in the public health services. Approximately 61 per cent had signed up to the POCC.

Of the 2,729 consultants who hold the POCC, 713 are new-entrants and 2,016 switched to the contract.

A HSE spokesperson said it “continues to encourage” consultants to “transition” to the POCC. They said each consultant had been written to individually to provide details of the contract and the transition arrangements.

“Our new health regions are reviewing all services and contracts to ensure maximum benefit is being derived from the contract, including weekend and extended working hours,” the spokesperson said.

The POCC was introduced in March 2023. The HSE
has established a national oversight group to oversee
its implementation.

“The HSE has worked, in the first instance, on ensuring maximum uptake on the number of consultants signing up to the new contract. In addition, our sites have focused on putting implementation plans in place to deliver the benefits from the contract.”

Speaking to the Medical Independent last month, Prof Anthony O’Regan, Medical Director, HSE National Doctors Training and Planning, said that recent retention statistics had “been very encouraging”. However, he added that the real impact of the POCC on recruitment would only be known in the coming years.

“The real metric of success will be year-on-year when we begin to see those numbers.”