Consultants deal will save €200m: Reilly

A new deal struck with consultants, which includes a 30% cut in starting salaries for new consultants, will save €200m annually, the health minister has said.

James Reilly said the main benefit of the deal, agreed early yesterday, is “increased flexibility”, which means consultants will be available to work on site over seven days and will complete shifts over 24 hours.

Dr Reilly said the deal would cut “hugely premium pay and overtime payments” and cut the numbers of “junior doctors on at night time” and the tests ordered as “decisions will be made more quickly”.