Consultants will fight any bid to change contracts

HOSPITAL consultants warned yesterday they will oppose any move to exclude them from private practice in public hospitals.

The Brennan Commission which investigated financial management in the health service has recommended all new and replacement hospital consultants must work exclusively for public patients.

Professor Niamh Brennan who chaired the Commission, said she was shocked to learn that controls on consultants' contracts are so weak that they can earn €152,000 a year for treating public patients and then delegate some of these duties to junior doctors. When they add on their work with private patients, they can earn up to €280,000 a year.