Every HSE section warned to enforce public-only consultants contract

Anne Marie Hoey, the chief people officer, said 'any arrangements for private charging by POCC consultants must cease immediately'.

The head of HSE human resources wrote to every section of the organisation on Friday warning the public-only consultants contract must be enforced.

Anne Marie Hoey, the chief people officer, said "any arrangements for private charging by POCC consultants must cease immediately".

This follows an admission on Wednesday by the Rotunda Hospital that its consultants can still offer private pregnancy care.

Under the terms of the new contracts, consultants who accept this cannot offer private care in public facilities anymore.

The letter, seen by the Irish Examiner, reminds managers this "must be implemented without exception".

Ms Hoey told managers that transitional arrangements from the old contracts have now ceased.

"The cessation of on site private work by POCC consultants is a core and non-negotiable requirement of the contract," she said.

Oireachtas health committee

The circular was sent to managers in hospitals, community services, and a range of other HSE-linked or connected services across the country.

She advised that any staff or managers with queries should discuss this with their local HSE HR office or contact the national HR help desk.

A HSE spokesman confirmed this circular was sent. 

In Dublin, consultants at the Rotunda can still offer private pregnancy care despite being on a public-only contract, the hospital's master Prof Sean Daly said on Wednesday during a session of the Oireachtas health committee.

He defended this to committee chair Pádraig Rice, saying there are no private maternity hospitals and “the Rotunda has long believed that women should have choice”.

He said that when he told health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, “suffice to say, she wasn’t happy”.

Mellany McLoone, the HSE’s integrated health area manager for this region, said: “We are aware and we are in discussions with Prof Daly.” 

She said few births are involved, adding it’s an ongoing discussion.

Ms McLoone also noted “substantially low” uptake of the public-only contract — offering salaries starting from €233,527 — nationally among obstetricians and gynaecologists.

The admission has led to renewed discussion this week around access to private maternity care under the new approach.