Sláintecare consultant contracts mean ‘private care in public hospitals will end’, says minister

Minister of Health Stephen Donnelly said the Midwest region needs more hospital beds. Picture: Brendan Gleeson

The end of private care in HSE public hospitals could come sooner than expected due to the high uptake of a new consultants contract, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said.

The latest figures show 49% of consultants working in the public services are now on the Sláintecare contract, which does not allow for private patients, he told the Irish Medical Organisation conference.