James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

No, there is no negotiation. The implementation of the arrangements will be done through the clinical directors. It is important to point out that the bulk of consultants had been doing this sort of work pro bono, and I thank them for that. They have done an extraordinary job in terms of embracing the new changes. In 2011, they have, through the clinical programmes and coming in at weekends to discharge patients and read diagnostic reports, such as MRIs, X-rays etc., saved €63 million and 70,000 bed days. Last year, they saved €90 million and 100,000 bed days. Therefore, the savings are being made in a real way. I cannot run a service on a pro bono basis and that is the reason the LRC talks were so important so that this issue could be nailed down as a contractual obligation, which it now is. We are getting co-operation on it and I have not heard of any areas where we are having difficulty. If I do hear of such areas, I will, through the good offices of my Department, encourage the HSE to ensure the arrangements are enforced. It is important to remember that this should be about patients and patient outcomes and we are all focused on that now.

Again, I reiterate my thanks to the new leadership emerging through the clinical programmes, the nursing profession, the medical profession and allied care professionals in regard to working in a different way. I would not dream of insulting people in the health service by saying they must work harder or smarter. They already work very hard and that has never been the issue. The issue has been a system which was allowed to evolve in a chaotic fashion that frustrated and prevented them from delivering the care they wished to provide.

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