Rotunda Hospital Faces Insurance Risk Over Public-Only Consultants Offering Private Care
Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill warned the Rotunda Hospital could lose State insurance if public-only consultants continue offering private care. The hospital must audit these practices by Monday or risk funding cuts. MacNeill also suggested refunds for affected women and criticized the hospital's private care model.
Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has warned that the Rotunda Hospital could lose State-funded clinical indemnity insurance if it continues to allow public-only consultants to provide private care. She questioned if the hospital might owe refunds to women who received private care from these consultants, calling it an «open question» discussed with the State Claims Agency.
The Rotunda has until Monday to submit an audit to the HSE detailing the number of consultants offering private care on public-only contracts and the billed amounts. Failure to comply could lead to funding being withheld or withdrawn under its service-level agreement with the HSE. Carroll MacNeill expects compliance from consultants who signed these «richly paid» public-only contracts.
She criticized the Rotunda's plan to have certain consultants on call only for private women, arguing it diverts resources from ensuring equal care for all. Carroll MacNeill also dismissed claims that private care improves safety standards, suggesting such arguments come from those who profit from the private model. She affirmed that any action against the Rotunda would not interrupt care for pregnant women.
Prof. Jennifer Walsh, Master of the National Maternity Hospital, supported the Rotunda, urging the government to consider allowing new consultant obstetricians to remain on public-private contracts (Type-B). She noted her hospital receives complaints from women unable to book private care due to consultants retiring and being replaced by public-only contract holders, calling it an «unintended consequence» of Sláintecare.