Private hospitals must do 'right thing' for public healthcare system, says Donnelly

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly is due to update Cabinet on plans to deal with anticipated high levels of viruses that may be in transmission over the coming months.

Private hospitals must do the "right thing" when it comes to supporting the public healthcare system over the winter months, the Health Minister has said.

It comes after the Private Hospitals Association (PHA) hit out at an HSE plan to use such facilities to ease the pressure on public hospitals between November and the end of February.

The HSE's emergency department taskforce plans to tender for private hospital support for treating non-emergency cases in a bid to avoid a repeat of the record numbers of patients on trolleys last winter.

However, PHA has said members have not been given enough notice of the plan and would only want to enter into such an agreement if it spans over two or three years.

Reacting, Stephen Donnelly said: "I fully accept that the private hospitals need to make a profit, they are for-profit entities, and we need their services on behalf of patients

"What we cannot have is a situation where the profits demanded are too high, this is public money and we need to make sure that public money is used to the best effect

Speaking during a Patients Rights Day Conference hosted by the Irish Patients Association in Dublin, Mr Donnelly told the Irish Examiner: "The private hospitals need to do the right thing here, we have been in discussion with the private hospitals right through the year, the HSE and my officials have been talking with the private hospitals."

Vaccines

Mr Donnelly is due to update Cabinet on plans to deal with anticipated high levels of viruses including covid, flu, and RSV, that may be in transmission at the same time this autumn and winter.

A covid and flu vaccination programme will be rolled out from the start of October which will be co-administered free of charge to eligible people. The Department of Health has also requested advice from NIAC in relation to the potential use of vaccines for RSV.

Meanwhile, the children’s flu vaccination programme is due to commence on October 9.

The chief medical officer will also meet representatives from other Government departments to reiterate the need for adherence to optimum infection protection and control measures.