The HSE is in talks with some medical consultants about the State covering the cost of rent for their rooms in private hospitals, the Department of Health has said. The move represents a new attempt to resolve the impasse over the Government’s plans to have private sector consultants treat public patients during the current Covid-19 crisis. However, this arrangement did not cover about 600 private medical specialists who practise in these facilities. The Department of Health said it was looking at an arrangement that could see the HSE fund the private rooms of consultants, if required, to provide care to public patients. About 150 private sector medical consultants are understood to have signed up to the State public-only contract for the duration of the crisis.

Source: The Irish Times May 02, 2020 00:00 UTC