Rotunda Hospital Consultants on Public-Only Contracts Billed Private Insurers for Services
Rotunda Maternity Hospital consultants on public-only contracts billed private insurers for services, a practice the Department of Health did not condone. The hospital, which had permitted this, has now ceased the billing after warnings from the Minister and HSE. A review is underway across all public hospitals to ensure compliance.
Consultants at Rotunda Maternity Hospital, employed on public-only contracts, billed private health insurers for one-off clinical services provided to women giving birth and newborn babies. This practice, which included anaesthesiologists and paediatricians, has now ceased following a dispute over payments to obstetric consultants.
The Rotunda Hospital confirmed it permitted consultants to invoice insurers directly, interpreting this as permissible under public-only contracts. The hospital did not receive any share of these fees, which were paid directly to consultants. Details of this practice were provided to the Department of Health following a HSE request on June 8.
The Department of Health, however, stated it was not «aware of» and would not «condone» such arrangements, emphasizing that public-only consultants are not permitted to engage in private practice within public hospitals. Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill had previously warned the Rotunda about potential funding cuts if it did not comply with Public Only Consultant Contracts (POCCs). The HSE also threatened a «manifest breach» of the service level agreement, which provides over €70 million in annual funding.
Both The Coombe Hospital and the National Maternity Hospital confirmed their public-only consultants did not bill private insurers in this manner. The Rotunda Hospital backed down last Tuesday, agreeing to revoke all permissions for such billing. The HSE is now conducting a comprehensive review across all public hospitals to ensure POCC adherence.