Harney wants ‘flexibility’ from consultants

HOSPITAL consultants will have to be ready to accept public only contracts if the Health Service is to meet public patients’ needs, Tánaiste Mary Harney has said.

Speaking at the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) annual general meeting, the Minister for Health said “flexibility” and “not rigidity” was vital to look after the public’s needs.

She said a variety of contracts, such as public only, private only and public/private, were needed and confirmed she wanted contract talks to examine the introduction of a ‘public only’ contract in the early years of a consultants career.