Private treatment 'blocking access for public hospital patients'

Private treatment in public hospitals may be blocking access to services for public patients, according to an official report on hospital consultant contracts.

The Comptroller and Auditor General says there is no meaningful attempt to monitor the level of private practice by public specialists and assess its impact on their contractual commitments with the state.

John Purcell says the extent of doctors' private practice generally exceeds the ratio of public to private hospital beds designated by the Department of Health.

He says this results in fewer resources going towards the treatment of public patients than is intended by the Government.

Minister for Health Mary Harney says the report supports the case for a new consultant contract.