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Good old h s e
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Just had a call from someone at Beaumont hospital who proceeded to ask if I'd had a specific heart related test yet, from her notes the test was ordered in 2020, so 6 yrs later I inform them nope, no test... She apologised and told me she is tasked with sorting out the waiting list, I laughed. Is this what our hard earned taxes is going to? Tbh I'm surprised I'm not dead yet... God help us all, I think I need a good ride now 😊 |
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By *og-ManMan 4 weeks ago
somewhere |
But it might kill ya 
My son was working doing something similar on a 3 month contract when he was just finished his L.C at 18
He'd come home some days and just cry chatting to us because so many people were dead and he felt like shit for making the call
Most people were fine but a few fucked him out of it on the call and he never hung up because he didn't think he was allowed |
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"But it might kill ya
My son was working doing something similar on a 3 month contract when he was just finished his L.C at 18
He'd come home some days and just cry chatting to us because so many people were dead and he felt like shit for making the call
Most people were fine but a few fucked him out of it on the call and he never hung up because he didn't think he was allowed "
ah god love him, I would never abuse anyone tasked with doing a job, it just struck me that had I needed that test urgently I would have been definitely dead 6 yrs later. Sorry state of affairs anyway. |
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The problem with the HSE is, like most places, they are too heavy with managers. There was a time when you had a matron and she was the management. If you get rid of three quarters of management, money would be available to hire nurses and doctors and specialists. I know three managers in the HSE, one in HR, one in logistics and the other in a hospital and I can tell you, there life is very handy, very comfortable and not a care in the world because it’s tax payer driven. |
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Most of the surgeons on HSE also work abroad. They make a fortune doing 2 or 3 days a week in Spain ,Italy and UK. No wonder there's such long waiting lists. I am on an Urgent waiting list,it's 37 weeks just to be seen by surgeon!!! |
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I got gynae surgery in the Blackrock late last year, under the NTPF because i was waiting so long.
Am waiting nearly a year on an "urgent" ortho appointment for a minor procedure that if it doesnt come soon ill probably attempt it myself |
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The system was already in tatters before covid hit. A lot of stuff fell between the cracks with delayed diagnosis. People who could of got longer with loved ones were sometimes short changed and there were a greatany others who simply wouldn't do what they were suppose to do. |
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I was lucky to reach the wonderful milestone age of 69 without requiring in-patient hospital treatment. Diagnosed with a health problem I was left on a consultants waiting list for over 6 months, he was too busy with his private patient list to attend to me as a public patient. I became critically ill and came close to dying as a result of the delay. When I had to be admitted through A&E the HSE public system kicked immediately into gear and I was very well looked after in the shortest possible time frame. For every story of long delays there are hundreds, if not thousands, of procedures that are carried out in the public health system in a medically prioritised time frame.
One cause of public patients on long waiting lists is consultants double jobbing in both public and private hospitals and giving priority to their private patients. This problem is added to by those consultants putting private patients into public hospital beds, or worse still, keeping public beds empty until it is convenient for them to admit private patients for elective surgery in public operating theatres, often because the equipment and facilities available to them are better in the public hospitals.
Thankfully since 2023 the government have started to implement POCC, Public Only Consultant Contracts, for all new consultants wishing to work in public hospitals which requires them to work a 37-hour week, with extended hours, including evenings (up to 10pm) and Saturdays.
When private patients no longer clog up the public system the waiting lists will get shorter and the patients on trollies will be in the corridors of the private hospitals. It will then be up to the shareholders of the private hospitals and health insurance companies to spend some of their profits to sort out what is actually their problem and not offload it onto the public health service.
To use a medical metaphor, the malignancy within the public health service needs to be removed to allow the system to function properly.
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I went for a health check just before Covid. It took about three months for the results which came back suggesting I had a mild heart attack...roll on a year of worry etc finally a new appointment only to be told after another ECG that I was fine and it was most likely a loose lead. Not funny when you think you have fk your health up. Drs differ as they say!!! |
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By *og-ManMan 4 weeks ago
somewhere |
Badger
You do know that the private patients also pay PRSI towards the health service so are paying for the same treatment twice
If I go into a public hospital into a public ward the first bit of paperwork Im asked to sign is to state that I have health insurance so that they can charge my insurance full wack for a private bed even while Im in a public bed
A cash cow for the hospital
I pay private because I get to a private A&E within an hour every single time instead of god only knows how long in a public hospital
I get all my tests and scans done within 48 hrs and results within another 48 hrs in a private hospital that doesnt take public patients so Im not taking anyone else's place |
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"Badger
You do know that the private patients also pay PRSI towards the health service so are paying for the same treatment twice
If I go into a public hospital into a public ward the first bit of paperwork Im asked to sign is to state that I have health insurance so that they can charge my insurance full wack for a private bed even while Im in a public bed
A cash cow for the hospital
I pay private because I get to a private A&E within an hour every single time instead of god only knows how long in a public hospital
I get all my tests and scans done within 48 hrs and results within another 48 hrs in a private hospital that doesnt take public patients so Im not taking anyone else's place "
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Bog-Man
Of course any patient who pays PAYE is entitled to be treated in a public hospital. What they are not entitled to is to be leap-frogged ahead of other public patients by their consultants using the public hospital facilities to do so.
If you have private health insurance and go into a public ward in a public hospital you are actually given the choice of whether you wish to be treated as a public PAYE patient or a privately insured patient. You will receive the exact same medical treatment by the hospital staff but you may or may not be treated differently by your consultant.
The public hospital system receives approx 5% of its total annual revenue through accommodating private patients who historically have made up as many as 30% of the admissions.
Thankfully this structural anomaly, which has lead to a two-tier health system, has been recognised by the government as being a major inequality and is being corrected by the introduction of the Sláintecare 10 year strategic plan, introduced in 2024. This is working towards establishing Universal Healthcare, a fairer system based on medical need rather than the ability to pay or the greed of those profiting from people's illness.
Approximately 50% of all private hospital care in Ireland takes place within public hospitals. The private healthcare providers are using the public hospitals to prop up their inadequate facilities therefore blocking access by public patients to public hospitals. Perhaps those paying ever increasing premiums for an ever decreasing service should be directing their attention towards the shortcomings of the private healthcare providers rather than critising the public system in which they are happy to queue jump when helped to do so by their consultants.
I have absolutely no problem with private patients being treated in private hospitals or clinics. My only issue is with private patients receiving preferential treatment in public hospitals to the detriment of public patients.
I attended A&E at CUH twice over the past two years. The first occasion I was waiting 20-30 minutes. The second occasion I was triaged and receiving meds within 10 minutes of arriving.
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I was given an urgent referral to a neurologist in September 2016 and rang in November to see where I was on the waiting list because I wasn't able to work.
I was confidently told that people who had been referred in June 2016 were being allocated appointments in February 2018 so I could probably expect to be seen sometime in May 2018.
I had to suck it up because I couldn't afford to go privately.
Three days later I got a letter with an appointment for the following Tuesday.
I always assumed that someone made a mistake and that the appointment should have gone to someone else but that wasn't my problem and I took it and as a result discovered the real cause of my issues and was able to get treated correctly and return to work. |
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HSE are top top heavy at the top , they make up Jobs for people just to give them a Job, it's so so easy to spend other people's money & they do ...they do ...A nurse told me that her hours that she worked are checked by 4 different people before her hours are signed off ..her words exactly. |
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"Just had a call from someone at Beaumont hospital who proceeded to ask if I'd had a specific heart related test yet, from her notes the test was ordered in 2020, so 6 yrs later I inform them nope, no test... She apologised and told me she is tasked with sorting out the waiting list, I laughed. Is this what our hard earned taxes is going to? Tbh I'm surprised I'm not dead yet... God help us all, I think I need a good ride now 😊 "
Test your heart rate out and recovery time  |
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Went for a check up as a young child and was referred to a clinic in Dublin. 18 years later I received the appointment. Was in the area that day and said I’d attend for the craic. When my name was called I approached the desk and the lady asked where my son was. I politely told her to check the requested referral date and she nearly lost her life 🤣, needless to say the appointment was cancelled and I didn’t get the test. 😂🤣 |
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By *ombikerMan 4 weeks ago
the right side of the river |
A friend of mine who had cancer and now in remission has a checkup every 3 months, anyway the last time he went the doctor/ consultant told him in his best pigeon English that why do you keep coming to these appointments, just get your affairs on order, do you not realise you are going to die sooner or later.
Well that is service for you.
Now my friend has a tough hide and not in the slightest bit of a quitter. He will fight until the end but imagine the mentality of the person saying that to a patient.
He survived the chemo and is stable for now. But I think if it was me the doctor would be going before me. |
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By *ombikerMan 4 weeks ago
the right side of the river |
"O m g that's shocking!!! I'd have reported that Dr, shocking lack of empathy there, hope your friend is doing well. "
Yes he is doing good and a positive outlook on things also.
It was absolutely disgusting and I wonder how many other people he has dismissed like that or just binned their file. Just to get back to the private practice and skim through the public patients |
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"A friend of mine who had cancer and now in remission has a checkup every 3 months, anyway the last time he went the doctor/ consultant told him in his best pigeon English that why do you keep coming to these appointments, just get your affairs on order, do you not realise you are going to die sooner or later.
Well that is service for you.
Now my friend has a tough hide and not in the slightest bit of a quitter. He will fight until the end but imagine the mentality of the person saying that to a patient.
He survived the chemo and is stable for now. But I think if it was me the doctor would be going before me."
.....
It is good to know your friend received proper treatment and is doing well despite the obvious lack of empathy shown.
We rely very much on non-national medical staff to work in both our public and private healthcare systems and up to 44% of doctors currently practicing in Ireland received their initial qualifications outside of this country. Therefore it is not unusual to be treated by medical personnel whose first language may not be english. It is unfair and demeaning imo to describe such dedicated and hard working professionals as having "pigeon English", and somewhat ironic when the term used is incorrectly spelt.
If a medical practitioner behaves in an unprofessional manner there are procedures in place to have them reprimanded and ultimately they risk being struck off the medical register if their behaviour is deemed to be unprofessional.
Patients deserve to be treated with dignity and respect but so also do the people providing their care. |
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My own brother had a major operation as a result of cancer and months later developed severe pains in the sane area where the surgery had taken place. In one meeting with his very Irish consultant he was told "y'know, you've had major surgery so you're just going to have to get used to the idea of heading pain. Aren't you lucky to be alive at this point?" and said there was no need for any further testing.
He told me this on the phone that evening. He died suddenly the following morning. |
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"A friend of mine who had cancer and now in remission has a checkup every 3 months, anyway the last time he went the doctor/ consultant told him in his best pigeon English that why do you keep coming to these appointments, just get your affairs on order, do you not realise you are going to die sooner or later.
Well that is service for you.
Now my friend has a tough hide and not in the slightest bit of a quitter. He will fight until the end but imagine the mentality of the person saying that to a patient.
He survived the chemo and is stable for now. But I think if it was me the doctor would be going before me.
.....
It is good to know your friend received proper treatment and is doing well despite the obvious lack of empathy shown.
We rely very much on non-national medical staff to work in both our public and private healthcare systems and up to 44% of doctors currently practicing in Ireland received their initial qualifications outside of this country. Therefore it is not unusual to be treated by medical personnel whose first language may not be english. It is unfair and demeaning imo to describe such dedicated and hard working professionals as having "pigeon English", and somewhat ironic when the term used is incorrectly spelt.
If a medical practitioner behaves in an unprofessional manner there are procedures in place to have them reprimanded and ultimately they risk being struck off the medical register if their behaviour is deemed to be unprofessional.
Patients deserve to be treated with dignity and respect but so also do the people providing their care. "
Hear hear |
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There is an assumption that Consultants are neglecting public work to make huge sums in the private system.
For the vast majority this is not true.
Long waiting lists are a combination of a larger demand. This is coupled with workforce and infrastructure constraints. A Consultant clinic does not run on its own, it needs nursing, admin, diagnostic and maybe therapy staff. It also needs physical space.
Doubling consultants or their hours without also increasing supporting staffing and infrastructure availability (more space or extended hours) will result in a very small increase in patients seen.
Private hospitals employ more staff and extend hours/space as every piece of activity generates income
All public hospital activity generates expense and therefore will always have constraints.
Many Consultants are now on public only contracts.
The consultants are scamming the public system in favour of the private is a common trope, even used by Ministers for Health - but for the majority is not true. |
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To date approx 62% of consultants in public hospitals have signed up to Public Only Consultant Contracts. That leaves 38% that still can have as many as 20%, or in the case of some older contacts, 30%, private patients in public hospitals. Not insignificant figures by any means and a definite contributing factor to lack of capacity, patients on trollies and longer waiting lists for public patients in public hospitals.
Equipment and staffing resources which should be used for public patients are being utilised by consultants for their private patients and those private patients are being prioritised by their consultants when it comes to being admitted for elective procedures in public hospitals.
The readily available figures tell the exact story.
Unfortunately it will be at least 2034 before the Public Only Consultant Contracts are fully implemented leaving many public patients languishing on waiting lists while private patients are prioritised for treatment in public hospitals ahead of them.
The minister for Health could make an immediate ministerial order putting aside the Public & Private contracts for the 38% who have not signed up to the Sláintecare reforms but she is probably too afraid of the Irish Medical Organisation and the anticipated backlash from the private healthcare sector who would strongly resist this as they would no longer be able to divert their excess demand onto the public system.
Those paying exorbitant health insurance premiums should be protesting outside their insurers offices and private hospitals demanding to get access to the facitities and services they have paid dearly for from within the private sector.
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"To date approx 62% of consultants in public hospitals have signed up to Public Only Consultant Contracts. That leaves 38% that still can have as many as 20%, or in the case of some older contacts, 30%, private patients in public hospitals. Not insignificant figures by any means and a definite contributing factor to lack of capacity, patients on trollies and longer waiting lists for public patients in public hospitals.
Equipment and staffing resources which should be used for public patients are being utilised by consultants for their private patients and those private patients are being prioritised by their consultants when it comes to being admitted for elective procedures in public hospitals.
The readily available figures tell the exact story.
Unfortunately it will be at least 2034 before the Public Only Consultant Contracts are fully implemented leaving many public patients languishing on waiting lists while private patients are prioritised for treatment in public hospitals ahead of them.
The minister for Health could make an immediate ministerial order putting aside the Public & Private contracts for the 38% who have not signed up to the Sláintecare reforms but she is probably too afraid of the Irish Medical Organisation and the anticipated backlash from the private healthcare sector who would strongly resist this as they would no longer be able to divert their excess demand onto the public system.
Those paying exorbitant health insurance premiums should be protesting outside their insurers offices and private hospitals demanding to get access to the facitities and services they have paid dearly for from within the private sector.
"
The Minister cant just walk away from contractual commitments. Consultants would be running straight to Court and they'd win every time. |
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By *dfabMan 4 weeks ago
Dunboyne |
The whole health system in Ireland needs a Lean Six Sigma analysis to implement a single system across the board, cut the admin BS for staff who are much better at patient engagement, make "managers" accountable and make everyone's life better.
Unfortunately nobody in government has the balls to say this and get it done, so those who can pay will pay to jump the queues.
Need to do what other countries have done and have one system for all and paid for proportionally across society, so Drnis O'Brien and the likes are paying 10m each into it a year  |
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"To date approx 62% of consultants in public hospitals have signed up to Public Only Consultant Contracts. That leaves 38% that still can have as many as 20%, or in the case of some older contacts, 30%, private patients in public hospitals. Not insignificant figures by any means and a definite contributing factor to lack of capacity, patients on trollies and longer waiting lists for public patients in public hospitals.
Equipment and staffing resources which should be used for public patients are being utilised by consultants for their private patients and those private patients are being prioritised by their consultants when it comes to being admitted for elective procedures in public hospitals.
The readily available figures tell the exact story.
Unfortunately it will be at least 2034 before the Public Only Consultant Contracts are fully implemented leaving many public patients languishing on waiting lists while private patients are prioritised for treatment in public hospitals ahead of them.
The minister for Health could make an immediate ministerial order putting aside the Public & Private contracts for the 38% who have not signed up to the Sláintecare reforms but she is probably too afraid of the Irish Medical Organisation and the anticipated backlash from the private healthcare sector who would strongly resist this as they would no longer be able to divert their excess demand onto the public system.
Those paying exorbitant health insurance premiums should be protesting outside their insurers offices and private hospitals demanding to get access to the facitities and services they have paid dearly for from within the private sector.
The Minister cant just walk away from contractual commitments. Consultants would be running straight to Court and they'd win every time. "
......
Yes she can.....she has the power to make a ministerial order under the current legislation, specifically the 1970 and 2004 Health Acts, stating that facilities in public hospitals can only be made available for use by consultants for their private patients if such facilities are not required for use by public patients. The consultant 80/20 and 70/30 contracts remain in place but the consultants cannot avail of facilities for private patients that are already allocated to public patients.
It would be interesting to see how much support the consultants in private practice would get from the general public or the courts if they were to try to fight against such legislation being introduced for the betterment of the public health service. |
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By *ombikerMan 4 weeks ago
the right side of the river |
"A friend of mine who had cancer and now in remission has a checkup every 3 months, anyway the last time he went the doctor/ consultant told him in his best pigeon English that why do you keep coming to these appointments, just get your affairs on order, do you not realise you are going to die sooner or later.
Well that is service for you.
Now my friend has a tough hide and not in the slightest bit of a quitter. He will fight until the end but imagine the mentality of the person saying that to a patient.
He survived the chemo and is stable for now. But I think if it was me the doctor would be going before me.
.....
It is good to know your friend received proper treatment and is doing well despite the obvious lack of empathy shown.
We rely very much on non-national medical staff to work in both our public and private healthcare systems and up to 44% of doctors currently practicing in Ireland received their initial qualifications outside of this country. Therefore it is not unusual to be treated by medical personnel whose first language may not be english. It is unfair and demeaning imo to describe such dedicated and hard working professionals as having "pigeon English", and somewhat ironic when the term used is incorrectly spelt.
If a medical practitioner behaves in an unprofessional manner there are procedures in place to have them reprimanded and ultimately they risk being struck off the medical register if their behaviour is deemed to be unprofessional.
Patients deserve to be treated with dignity and respect but so also do the people providing their care. "
What I said are the facts of what happened.
It seems the system would rather you just go away and die quietly without making a fuss.
It is inexcusable that a patient be basically told to go away and die and stop bothering me.
Doesn't make any difference where the doctor was from. |
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By *ombikerMan 4 weeks ago
the right side of the river |
I don't know about anyone else here but it seems like I have been to more funerals in the last 4 years than I have been to in the previous 40 years.
Maybe it is the age I am at or is health care really so bad.
I remember a time when a GP would do house calls in the evenings.
I remember a time when you could just rock on up to your local doctor or health centre and be seen by a doctor within an hour or so. No need to make a call and make an appointment for 3 days time if it's an urgent case.
But also I suppose the circle of people I would know is also older.
Maybe I better make a will.
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"A friend of mine who had cancer and now in remission has a checkup every 3 months, anyway the last time he went the doctor/ consultant told him in his best pigeon English that why do you keep coming to these appointments, just get your affairs on order, do you not realise you are going to die sooner or later.
Well that is service for you.
Now my friend has a tough hide and not in the slightest bit of a quitter. He will fight until the end but imagine the mentality of the person saying that to a patient.
He survived the chemo and is stable for now. But I think if it was me the doctor would be going before me.
.....
It is good to know your friend received proper treatment and is doing well despite the obvious lack of empathy shown.
We rely very much on non-national medical staff to work in both our public and private healthcare systems and up to 44% of doctors currently practicing in Ireland received their initial qualifications outside of this country. Therefore it is not unusual to be treated by medical personnel whose first language may not be english. It is unfair and demeaning imo to describe such dedicated and hard working professionals as having "pigeon English", and somewhat ironic when the term used is incorrectly spelt.
If a medical practitioner behaves in an unprofessional manner there are procedures in place to have them reprimanded and ultimately they risk being struck off the medical register if their behaviour is deemed to be unprofessional.
Patients deserve to be treated with dignity and respect but so also do the people providing their care.
What I said are the facts of what happened.
It seems the system would rather you just go away and die quietly without making a fuss.
It is inexcusable that a patient be basically told to go away and die and stop bothering me.
Doesn't make any difference where the doctor was from. "
....
It is unacceptable that a medical professional, whatever the level of their english language skills, would be dismissive or disrespectful towards any patient. Such behaviour should always be called out and reported where necessary. But the excellent care given by most medical professionals should also be acknowledged.
My main point is that the use of public health facilities by consultants for the treatment of their private patients is contributing to longer than necessary waiting lists, delays in A&E, a "trolly crisis" and therefore preventing public patients from getting the level of hospital care they are entitled to.
A two-tier system will obviously favour those who can afford to pay. But if such a system is to continue to exist then the private healthcare providers will have to put in place the facilities they require to run their businesses without taking up the spaces they currently occupy in public hospitals.
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By *obnavanMan 4 weeks ago
Naaaaaaaaavan (Exiled) |
Make sure the ride brings the heart rate above 180. If you finish strong, forgot the test. If you flatline and spontaneously combust, yeh maybe thats an unfortunate administrative oversight. |
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"To date approx 62% of consultants in public hospitals have signed up to Public Only Consultant Contracts. That leaves 38% that still can have as many as 20%, or in the case of some older contacts, 30%, private patients in public hospitals. Not insignificant figures by any means and a definite contributing factor to lack of capacity, patients on trollies and longer waiting lists for public patients in public hospitals.
Equipment and staffing resources which should be used for public patients are being utilised by consultants for their private patients and those private patients are being prioritised by their consultants when it comes to being admitted for elective procedures in public hospitals.
The readily available figures tell the exact story.
Unfortunately it will be at least 2034 before the Public Only Consultant Contracts are fully implemented leaving many public patients languishing on waiting lists while private patients are prioritised for treatment in public hospitals ahead of them.
The minister for Health could make an immediate ministerial order putting aside the Public & Private contracts for the 38% who have not signed up to the Sláintecare reforms but she is probably too afraid of the Irish Medical Organisation and the anticipated backlash from the private healthcare sector who would strongly resist this as they would no longer be able to divert their excess demand onto the public system.
Those paying exorbitant health insurance premiums should be protesting outside their insurers offices and private hospitals demanding to get access to the facitities and services they have paid dearly for from within the private sector.
The Minister cant just walk away from contractual commitments. Consultants would be running straight to Court and they'd win every time.
......
Yes she can.....she has the power to make a ministerial order under the current legislation, specifically the 1970 and 2004 Health Acts, stating that facilities in public hospitals can only be made available for use by consultants for their private patients if such facilities are not required for use by public patients. The consultant 80/20 and 70/30 contracts remain in place but the consultants cannot avail of facilities for private patients that are already allocated to public patients.
It would be interesting to see how much support the consultants in private practice would get from the general public or the courts if they were to try to fight against such legislation being introduced for the betterment of the public health service."
What specific section(s) of those Acts are you referring to here? |
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By *ombikerMan 4 weeks ago
the right side of the river |
"A friend of mine who had cancer and now in remission has a checkup every 3 months, anyway the last time he went the doctor/ consultant told him in his best pigeon English that why do you keep coming to these appointments, just get your affairs on order, do you not realise you are going to die sooner or later.
Well that is service for you.
Now my friend has a tough hide and not in the slightest bit of a quitter. He will fight until the end but imagine the mentality of the person saying that to a patient.
He survived the chemo and is stable for now. But I think if it was me the doctor would be going before me.
.....
It is good to know your friend received proper treatment and is doing well despite the obvious lack of empathy shown.
We rely very much on non-national medical staff to work in both our public and private healthcare systems and up to 44% of doctors currently practicing in Ireland received their initial qualifications outside of this country. Therefore it is not unusual to be treated by medical personnel whose first language may not be english. It is unfair and demeaning imo to describe such dedicated and hard working professionals as having "pigeon English", and somewhat ironic when the term used is incorrectly spelt.
If a medical practitioner behaves in an unprofessional manner there are procedures in place to have them reprimanded and ultimately they risk being struck off the medical register if their behaviour is deemed to be unprofessional.
Patients deserve to be treated with dignity and respect but so also do the people providing their care.
What I said are the facts of what happened.
It seems the system would rather you just go away and die quietly without making a fuss.
It is inexcusable that a patient be basically told to go away and die and stop bothering me.
Doesn't make any difference where the doctor was from.
....
It is unacceptable that a medical professional, whatever the level of their english language skills, would be dismissive or disrespectful towards any patient. Such behaviour should always be called out and reported where necessary. But the excellent care given by most medical professionals should also be acknowledged.
My main point is that the use of public health facilities by consultants for the treatment of their private patients is contributing to longer than necessary waiting lists, delays in A&E, a "trolly crisis" and therefore preventing public patients from getting the level of hospital care they are entitled to.
A two-tier system will obviously favour those who can afford to pay. But if such a system is to continue to exist then the private healthcare providers will have to put in place the facilities they require to run their businesses without taking up the spaces they currently occupy in public hospitals.
I do have to say on the rare occasion that I did end up in hospital that I personally did receive excellent care.
Also I suppose I did arrive in some serious discomfort but maintained polite communication with the staff. There was also quite a number of quite ill mannered and abusive people there at the same time. I know I was seen before many people (could be because I was in a fairly serious condition or because I had a bit of manners) but I personally can say I had a positive experience.
I was visited by a number of specialists and also their understudies (apparently they were surprised that I survived and was worth studying) ah well hard to kill a bad thing.
I did have a different experience with a simple broken bone as it turned out in the end, after an x-ray I was sent home with pain killers as it was just a sprain. I received a call to go back to the hospital a few weeks later as there was a review of cases from a certain doctor and it turns out when the looked at my x-rays I had a few broken bones. But had healed themselves in the meantime. But I suppose it was lucky that someone was following up.
But I suppose an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. Especially now that I probably don't heal as quickly as I did in my 20s or 30s. But not quite fit for the scrap heap yet.
"
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What specific section(s) of those Acts are you referring to here?
.....
The relevant Acts cover the HSE's control of the public hospitals by appointment of the Minister for Health.
The HSE is responsible for ensuring compliance with the consultant contracts, including limiting private activity. The HSE can restrict on-site private practice if it disrupts public services, with a goal that private care does not undermine equitable access. |
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"What specific section(s) of those Acts are you referring to here?
.....
The relevant Acts cover the HSE's control of the public hospitals by appointment of the Minister for Health.
The HSE is responsible for ensuring compliance with the consultant contracts, including limiting private activity. The HSE can restrict on-site private practice if it disrupts public services, with a goal that private care does not undermine equitable access."
The 2004 Act says;
78.—(1) The Minister may make regulations—
(a) for any purpose in relation to which regulations are provided for in this Act,
(b) for prescribing any matter or thing referred to in this Act as prescribed or to be prescribed, and
(c) generally for the purpose of giving effect to this Act.
Where is restricting access for private patients set out as a purpose under the Act?
Don't get me wrong. I'd love to see an absolutely clearer divide between private patients and public hospitals. It's crazy that you can skip the queue by having insurance.
But I really don't see that the Minister has the power to do what you say. And if she did, she'd be spending the next 5-10 years in Court fighting off consultants, and possibly paying out EVEN MORE to them.
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"What specific section(s) of those Acts are you referring to here?
.....
The relevant Acts cover the HSE's control of the public hospitals by appointment of the Minister for Health.
The HSE is responsible for ensuring compliance with the consultant contracts, including limiting private activity. The HSE can restrict on-site private practice if it disrupts public services, with a goal that private care does not undermine equitable access.
The 2004 Act says;
78.—(1) The Minister may make regulations—
(a) for any purpose in relation to which regulations are provided for in this Act,
(b) for prescribing any matter or thing referred to in this Act as prescribed or to be prescribed, and
(c) generally for the purpose of giving effect to this Act.
Where is restricting access for private patients set out as a purpose under the Act?
Don't get me wrong. I'd love to see an absolutely clearer divide between private patients and public hospitals. It's crazy that you can skip the queue by having insurance.
But I really don't see that the Minister has the power to do what you say. And if she did, she'd be spending the next 5-10 years in Court fighting off consultants, and possibly paying out EVEN MORE to them.
"
.......
The 2004 Act gives the Minister power to issue written instructions to the HSE which is responsible for the day-to-day management of public hospitals.
HSE protocols cover a wide range of national policies, clinical guidelines, and safety procedures aimed at standardizing care, ensuring staff safety, and managing risk within health services. Under these protocols HSE clinical directors are responsible for monitoring the public/private mix for 80/20 and 70/30 consultant contracts and ensuring that the needs of public patients, particularly regarding access to beds, are prioritized, which can include restricting the availability of beds for private patients during high-demand periods.
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"What specific section(s) of those Acts are you referring to here?
.....
The relevant Acts cover the HSE's control of the public hospitals by appointment of the Minister for Health.
The HSE is responsible for ensuring compliance with the consultant contracts, including limiting private activity. The HSE can restrict on-site private practice if it disrupts public services, with a goal that private care does not undermine equitable access.
The 2004 Act says;
78.—(1) The Minister may make regulations—
(a) for any purpose in relation to which regulations are provided for in this Act,
(b) for prescribing any matter or thing referred to in this Act as prescribed or to be prescribed, and
(c) generally for the purpose of giving effect to this Act.
Where is restricting access for private patients set out as a purpose under the Act?
Don't get me wrong. I'd love to see an absolutely clearer divide between private patients and public hospitals. It's crazy that you can skip the queue by having insurance.
But I really don't see that the Minister has the power to do what you say. And if she did, she'd be spending the next 5-10 years in Court fighting off consultants, and possibly paying out EVEN MORE to them.
.......
The 2004 Act gives the Minister power to issue written instructions to the HSE which is responsible for the day-to-day management of public hospitals.
HSE protocols cover a wide range of national policies, clinical guidelines, and safety procedures aimed at standardizing care, ensuring staff safety, and managing risk within health services. Under these protocols HSE clinical directors are responsible for monitoring the public/private mix for 80/20 and 70/30 consultant contracts and ensuring that the needs of public patients, particularly regarding access to beds, are prioritized, which can include restricting the availability of beds for private patients during high-demand periods.
"
Again, what particular Section of the 2004 act is this power set out? I see the power of the Minister to direct amendments to the service plan, is that what you're referring to?
(9) The Minister may direct the Executive or, in the case of a service plan submitted under subsection (6), the chief executive officer, to amend a service plan submitted under this section if, in the Minister's opinion, the plan—
(a) does not contain any information required under subsection (3),
(b) does not comply in any other respect with subsection (3),
(c) has been prepared without regard to a matter specified in subsection (4), or
(d) does not accord with the policies and objectives of the Minister or of the Government to the extent that those policies and objectives relate to the functions of the Executive.
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Regardless. The moment the minister pulled the rug on existing consultant contracts, and by extension, hampered access for private patients in public beds, she would immediately loose her political juice and be out on her arse.
Vote the minister out. That's the answer. |
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A larger proportion of the population are not covered by private healthcare so the numbers might be in the ministers favour for taking such action. It might also be in the best interest of those with health insurance if the companies involved were forced to provide the services in private hospitals that they are being paid for.
Voting the minister out changes nothing. What is needed is positive action not pointless posturing. |
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"Section 10 gives the Minister for Health the power to issue formal, general written directions to the HSE. "
There's nothing in that Section that gives the Minister the power to revoke existing contractual commitments to consultants or hospitals. |
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"Section 10 gives the Minister for Health the power to issue formal, general written directions to the HSE.
There's nothing in that Section that gives the Minister the power to revoke existing contractual commitments to consultants or hospitals."
.....
The section gives the Minister power to issue directions to the HSE and the HSE protocols allow for the management of public hospital facilities. Therefore no requirement to revoke contracts just judicious allocation of the available resources by hospital clinical directors. |
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(would love an auld ride too for the record 
)