HSE Threatens Rotunda Funding Over Private Practice by Public-Only Consultants
The HSE has threatened to withhold funding from the Rotunda Hospital if it continues to allow consultants on public-only contracts to practice privately. This practice, defended by Rotunda's Master Professor Sean Daly due to a lack of private maternity options, is deemed a «manifest breach» of agreement by the HSE. The health service has requested detailed information by June 8 and is considering sanctions, while politicians condemn it as a violation of universal healthcare policy.
The HSE has warned the Rotunda Hospital that its funding could be withheld if it continues to allow consultants on public-only contracts to practice privately. This follows Professor Sean Daly, Master of the Rotunda, telling the Oireachtas health committee last week that the practice was permitted due to the lack of private maternity options in Ireland, stating, «The only private care that is being allowed in the Rotunda for public-only contract holders is for pregnancy-related care, and that is because the Rotunda has long believed that women should have choice.» He informed Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill of this last year, noting she «wasn’t happy.»
In a letter, the HSE expressed «most serious apprehension» that the Rotunda is failing to comply with its service level agreement, emphasizing the hospital lacks discretion to permit public-only consultants to perform private healthcare. The HSE views this as a «manifest breach» and is considering options, including withholding a proportionate percentage of funding or precluding funding requests, as per clause 14 of the agreement.
The HSE has requested a list of public consultants practicing privately, who granted permission and why, the number of babies delivered by each since January 1, the number of expecting mothers under their private care, and the amount billed and received by the Rotunda for these services this year. This information is due by June 8.
Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice, chair of the Oireachtas health committee, called it a clear violation of Sláintecare policy, which aims for universal healthcare where public-only work occurs in public hospitals for those with new contracts. He stated it is not for individual hospitals to undermine this «landmark contract» and welcomed Minister Carroll MacNeill's action on this «very serious issue.» Rice noted that while half of obstetricians have signed public-only contracts, the issue is with those who signed but continue private work, seeking «the best of both worlds.»