Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 February 2026
569. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the key performance indicators and outcome measures used by her Department to assess whether the objectives of the Public Only Consultant Contract are being met; and to provide the baseline date and most recent reporting date for each such indicator. [15904/26]
View answerThe Public Only Consultant Contract is a key step in the move towards universal healthcare with public hospitals exclusively used for the treatment of public patients, in line with Sláintecare vision.
Key performance indicators for POCC include increasing the percentage of consultants rostered for extended hours. Despite the positive take up of the POCC, the benefits are not being realised to the extent that would be expected with regards to evening and weekend rostering. There is work ongoing within the HSE to review consultant rosters and ensure we are maximising the use of the hours in the contract, in order to benefit patient care.
With enhanced onsite presence of senior decision makers at weekends, an increase in weekend discharges rate to same as weekday average is also a key performance indicator with a discharge rate of 17% outlined in the National Service Plan 2026.
Finally a reduction in average length of stay which stood at 4.9 days in October 2025, has also been noted in the National Service Plan for 2026.
I trust this information will be of use to the Deputy.
