Hospital consultants may avoid further pay cuts which are proposed in the programme for government if they engage in more flexible work practices and reforms, the Minister for Health James Reilly has signalled.
Speaking at the annual conference of the Irish Hospital Consultants Association this morning he said that such flexibilities could generate savings of more than €100 million.
The new flexibilities envisaged by the Minister would involve considerably more patients being treated and considerably quicker discharges, particularly at weekends.
“There is a large political feeling that the knee-jerk good feel that we would get by reducing consultants remuneration is something we should do. And it is in the programme for government. I would much prefer to see the flexibility from consultants yielding this sort of outcome rather than going down that road.”
“I have fought at cabinet for that to be the case. But I need product. Because if I do not get product I will have to stand back and let others have their way.”
“I do not think that that is the way to go.”
Dr Reilly said that the Department of Health was prepared to be very flexible in how the proposed flexibility and quicker and weekend discharges could be achieved. He also said that different formulae may apply in different locations.