69% of Irish Hospital Consultants on 2023 Public-Only Contract; Weekend Rostering Low
New data shows 69% of Irish hospital consultants are on the 2023 Public-Only Consultant Contract, aiming to end private practice in public hospitals. Take-up varies widely across hospitals, regions, and specialities, with low rates for obstetricians and orthopaedics. A key contract goal of extended weekday and Saturday hours is largely unmet, with most regions rostering few consultants for weekends, prompting calls for better governance to address long waiting lists.
New Department of Health data, dated June 30, 2026, reveals 69% of all hospital consultants (3,483) are now on the 2023 Public-Only Consultant Contract (POCC), requiring exclusive treatment of public patients in public hospitals. Of these, 2,217 are «switchers» from other contracts, and 1,266 are new entrants. The contract, a key pillar of Sláintecare, aims to remove private practice from public hospitals and pays consultants €233,527-€280,513 annually.
Contract take-up varies significantly across hospitals and HSE regions. University Hospital Limerick has the lowest take-up among large teaching hospitals at 45%, while Beaumont Hospital leads with 83%. In ‘model 3’ hospitals, University Hospital Kerry shows the highest at 89%, but Midlands Regional Hospital, Portlaoise, is lowest at 46%. Maternity hospitals (Rotunda, Cork University Maternity Hospital) show only 44% of obstetricians/gynaecologists on POCC, contrasting with 91-100% for anaesthetists, radiologists, and psychiatrists.
Across HSE regions, take-up ranges from 51% in HSE Mid-West to 74% in HSE Dublin Northeast. Speciality-wise, obstetrics/gynaecology and orthopaedics have the lowest take-up (54% and 58% respectively), while anaesthetists, geriatricians, and radiologists show the highest (70-75%).
A key objective of the POCC is extended hours (Mon-Fri 8am-10pm, Sat 8am-6pm). However, the data indicates a minority of consultants are rostered for these extended weekday or weekend hours. For example, only 28% in HSE Southwest are rostered for extended weekday hours, and across five of six HSE regions, 10% or fewer consultants are scheduled for Saturdays. HSE Midwest is an exception, with 70% doing longer weekday hours and 48% working Saturdays.
Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice criticized the «hands-off approach to contract governance,» calling for increased evening and weekend rostering to address waiting lists of over one million people. The HSE acknowledged that 36% of consultants are on extended weekday hours and 11% on Saturdays, stating these figures are rising but «still too low, and the regional variation is too great.» The Chief Clinical Officer has directed clinical directors to review rosters to ensure extended hours and Saturday shifts are scheduled based on clinical needs.