PATIENTS of disgraced former obstetrician Dr Michael Neary are in legal limbo over a decision by the British-based Medical Defence Union (MDU) to cease insuring him for medical negligence cases taken against him after 2003.

CONSULTANTS have accused the British-based Medical Defence Union (MDU) of being “mischievous” in pronouncing it was pleased the Department of Health had accepted responsibility for past malpractice claims.

A BUSY acute hospital last night disputed a claim that medical staff had to treat patients in ambulances yesterday because there was no room for them in the Accident and Emergency department.

TWO hospital consultant representative groups are split on whether the Government’s guarantee on malpractice cover is enough to persuade them to call off their industrial action.

The threat of industrial action by hospital consultants in the row over malpractice cover has been averted today.

The Irish Hospital Consultants Association said today it would continue efforts to avoid industrial action in the row over insurance cover.

Planned industrial action by hospital consultants could reportedly be averted following a Cabinet decision taken yesterday.

THE Irish Hospital Consultants Association has voted by an overwhelming 84% majority in favour of industrial action over the failure to resolve the bitter ongoing medical insurance dispute.

Hospital consultants tonight voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action in an escalation of the dispute over medical insurance cover.

A HIGH Court judge yesterday criticised the decision of the Medical Defence Union (MDU) to withdraw indemnity from a consultant obstetrician who is being sued for €4.14 million the amount of a settlement approved by the court a year ago in favour of a 10-year-old girl who had cerebral palsy and other health complications.

HOSPITAL consultants yesterday gave Tánaiste and Health Minister Mary Harney five weeks to resolve their insurance row after they voted to ballot their members on strike action.

The Irish Hospital Consultants’ Association has voted to go ahead with a ballot for industrial action.

A union representing hospital consultants is to hold a special meeting later to discuss possible industrial action.

TÁNAISTE Mary Harney is facing her first real crisis at the Department of Health after hospital consultants and nurses yesterday threatened strike action.

The prospect of industrial action by the country’s hospital consultants loomed with the eight-to-one majority decision yesterday by members of the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) in favour of action.

Claire O’Sullivan

HOSPITAL consultants are to meet today to consider strike action after talks with the Department of Health on the long-running row over medical insurance cover stalled.

A PANEL of legal teams will be offered by the Department of Health to the surgeon from St James’ Hospital who is due in court shortly in a controversial alleged medical negligence case.

DOCTORS at the country’s biggest hospital are considering an all-out strike in a row over indemnity cover which could spread to other hospitals.

A HOSPITAL consultant is facing a malpractice hearing with the possibility of no insurance cover despite having paid his dues.

THERE were hopes last night of a breakthrough in the dispute between consultants and the Department of Health over insurance cover.

THERE were hopes last night of a breakthrough in the long-running dispute between consultants and the Department of Health over insurance cover.

PRIVATE hospitals are having difficulties recruiting consultants because of the continuing uncertainty over their insurance for medical negligence claims.

HOSPITAL consultants have warned they will “walk off the job” if any member is sued over the failure to resolve a row over who is liable for claims of past medical negligence.

Health Minister Mary Harney assured the conference of the Irish Hospital Consultants’ Association (IHCA) in Kilkenny that no patient or family will be left without insurance compensation and that “no consultant will be left exposed either”.

Hospital patients and consultants will not be left exposed due to problems over lawsuit cover for doctors, the Tánaiste said tonight.

NEW Health Minister Mary Harney and hospital consultants seem set on a collision course following the Tánaiste’s insistence yesterday that their insurance problems will not be sorted out before a new contract is negotiated.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern has promised to take whatever steps are necessary to ensure patients are fully covered for past compensation claims.

CONSULTANT obstetricians say they will be forced to give up their practice if the row between the State and a British firm over insurance cover continues.

HOSPITAL consultants involved in specialities other than obstetrics have been refused cover against medical negligence claims by their insurers.

A BRITISH firm that has refused to provide insurance cover for obstetricians was accused yesterday of using patients and consultants as pawns in their row with the Department of Health and Children.

The Irish Patients Association has called for the appointment of a third party to mediate in talks between the Irish Government and British insurance firm Medical Defence Union.

OVER €32 million was paid in claims against consultants last year, according to the Medical Defence Union’s annual report.

WE do not agree that the arrangements for medical indemnity for private practitioners are “an unholy mess born of bad business” (Irish Examiner, May 20).

HOSPITAL consultants yesterday called for an independent facilitator to head up talks to resolve a crisis over medical insurance cover.

If the current difficulties between the British-based Medical Defence Union (MDU) and the Department of Health are not resolved, it is the patients of this country who will ultimately suffer most.

THE latest decision by the British-based Medical Defence Union to stop providing secure cover for consultants in private practice drew an angry response from the Department of Health yesterday.

AN insurance body is refusing to pay compensation to around 100 women who say that their wombs were unnecessarily removed.

THE Government is under pressure to bail out the Medical Defence Union (MDU), which is now threatening to leave consultants financially exposed to negligence claims.

CONSULTANTS have been warned they may not be covered for new and existing claims after the Medical Defence Union (MDU) withdrew from talks with the Department of Health.

WOMEN who claimed they had their wombs removed unnecessarily are to boycott the State inquiry, claming it will be a whitewash.

Insurance for some hospital consultants will be withdrawn in less than two weeks unless a row over hospital liability is resolved.

Hospital consultants today urged health minister Micheál Martin to solve a dispute over insurance, after they postponed strike action for four weeks.

Hospital consultants have agreed to suspend their campaign of industrial action against a new insurance scheme following a meeting with the Minister for Health.