Health service management and medical organisations are moving close to agreement on a common waiting list to cover both public and private patients referred for non-urgent diagnostic tests in hospitals.
Under the initiative a new central booking registry would be put in place in hospitals to arrange diagnostic out-patient procedures such as X-rays, MRI scans or blood tests. There would be no distinction between access for private and public patients. All would be treated on a first- come first-served basis with any prioritisation being on the basis of medical need.
The proposed deal would be an alternative to measures set out last week by management in a draft contract for hospital consultants which banned doctors from accepting fees for private diagnostic out-patient work.
Any agreement on a common waiting list (or one-for-all access, as it will be known officially) would form part of an overall deal on a new contract for public hospital consultants. The proposal for the common waiting list was put forward by the Irish Medical Organisation and the Irish Hospital Consultants Association on Wednesday during talks on a new contract.
Health service management yesterday accepted the proposal on the basis that all out-patient diagnostic procedures would be arranged by the central booking office and that referrals would not be based on the willingness or ability of the patient to pay. Management has argued that under the existing system private patients can have faster access to treatment than those relying on the public service. Talks on other elements of an overall new contract for consultants were continuing between management and the medical organisations last night.
Much of the talks centred on hour of work for consultants, which is still a major issue of contention. Management has proposed that consultants should be rostered to work in hospitals, as part of teams, from 7am to 10pm Monday to Friday. Management is also seeking a significant scheduled consultant presence in hospitals on Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays. It wants consultants to be available on a 24-hour basis in specialities such as obstetrics, anaesthesia and paediatrics.
Management has proposed salaries of up to €216,000 per year for consultants who work exclusively in the public sector. However, the independent chairman of the talks, senior counsel Mark Connaughton, has indicated that agreement on pay may not be possible. He has suggested that a third party could be brought in to assist on this issue.