Over 80 per cent of Beaumont consultants transfer to new contract

Around 81 per cent of consultants at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin have elected to transfer to the public-only consultant contract, heard a hospital board meeting on 9 April.

At the meeting, interim hospital CEO Mr David Sweeney outlined a 10 per cent deficit in pay costs, which was largely attributable to the roll-out of the contract introduced by Government in March 2023.

According to board meeting minutes, obtained by the Medical Independent (MI) under Freedom of Information law, “circa 81 per cent of Beaumont Hospital consultants had elected to transfer to the new contract, which was high relative to the national average.” As a consequence, “the cost impact on Beaumont was disproportionate” and approval by the HSE of requisite funding was “anticipated”.

In March, the Department of Health described take-up of the new contract nationally as “strong across all specialties” with most seeing at least a 40 per cent uptake.

At the end of May, the HSE stated that 2,297 consultants had signed the contract, including 486 new-entrants. Over 4,200 whole-time equivalent (WTE) consultants are currently working in the public health service.

In May, the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin informed MI that 30 per cent of WTE consultants at the hospital held the new contract, but this figure was “lower” for obstetrics/gynaecology.

According to the Department, a key objective of the contract is to extend the hours that consultants are on duty across the health service. It prohibits consultants from engaging in private work during their public service commitment and in public hospitals.