My thoughts for tonight. #CancelTheContract
1/ There is an increasing sense here on twitter of a public vs private spat or debate.

2/ Nothing could be further from what I want to happen given this HSE takeover of the private sector. I am not a fan at all of bashing the public sector.

3/ It achieves nothing. Nor do I want to try and attack officials in the HSE or DOH. I have said it many times, I just want to be able to continue to care for my patients that I have cared for for over a decade.

4/ I want the public system to be properly funded, to get all the deserved expansion, hardware and healthcare staff that it needs. Report after report have highlighted what needs to be done yet so little of those expert reports have been acted upon and followed through.

5/ Some people here on twitter are calling for the HSE to continue with the takeover of the private system. Some of those calling for it are specialist colleagues from the public system.

6/ But surely they must know that to do that would continue to completely disrupt the continuity of care of hundreds of thousands of patients who are already part of a care pathway in a hospital and specialist in the private sector.

7/ And this may sound like a silly question - but why or how is the private sector responsible for the public sector, why does the public sector think that owing to its lack of capacity and beds and waiting lists, that it should simply take what it needs from the private system.

8/ We are neither the cause of what isn’t working in the public system, nor are we somehow obliged to fix it. Surely that is the responsibility of the State.

9/ Do those that want to continue the takeover over the private hospitals feel its fair and just to dismiss the needs and rights of the patients that are part of that system, patients that chose not to be in public queues.

10/ Patients with cancer, patients with strokes, fractures, diabetes, Parkinson’s, MS, cardiomyopathies. Is it fair to suggest to them that their care now must begin again elsewhere ?

11/ Because you may say to me to just become again a public consultant and then I can continue to care for them, but I can’t. Because my work set up is very different.

12/ And of course I also have a choice in how I want to practice medicine. I made my choice a few years ago. Others have made different choices and I totally respect them for that.

13/ But surely you can also respect the fact that I don’t wish to go back and work in the public system.

14/ There are some of the best colleagues ever that I worked with in the public system for 20 years, so this isn’t about me vs them. It never has been. It’s only about having autonomy to care for my patients in the best way I can and the way they deserve.