Despite struggling with irregular meals and a lack of sleep, three out of four junior doctors said they enjoyed their first year as an intern.

The State Claims Agency resolved 487 clinical negligence claims last year costing €69.6m, an Oireachtas committee has been told.

A formal complaints mechanism that lets doctors resolve issues raised by patients — before any possible litigation — could ease pressure on medics, according to a GP.

Doctors could be at increased risk of burnout after a survey indicated 95% of GPs experienced workplace stress in the past year.

Doctors from four private hospitals in Cork, Kerry and Waterford held a "crisis meeting" in Cork yesterday over the threat to private practice from soaring medical indemnity insurance costs.

The cost of private health insurance could rise yet again if insurance companies force private hospital consultants to pay an extra 42% in premiums to protect against medical negligence claims.

Around 15% of doctors have had a claim for negligence or a complaint investigated by the Irish Medical Council in the last 12 months.

THE HUSBAND of a Cork GP who died from a brain aneurysm, days after being diagnosed with migraine, has said she was a “wonderful wife and mother”.

DOCTORS wary of negative portrayal in the media are ordering unnecessary investigations and avoiding treating certain conditions.

CLAMOURING for heads on a platter every time a report on the health services is published will discourage people from opening up, the head of the Health Service Executive (HSE) warned yesterday.

THE former head of the Irish Medical Council has called for more accountability by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to ensure the delivery of good patient care.

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.

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.

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).

PATIENTS’ representatives have called for plans to avoid preventable deaths when services are withdrawn in an insurance row.

HOSPITAL consultants yesterday threatened to withdraw from talks on their new contract on February 1 unless Health Minister Micheal Martin changes policy on the new insurance scheme to be introduced on that date.

HOSPITAL consultants yesterday hit out at Health Minister Micheál Martin’s plan to fight the €800 million historic liabilities they could face in the British courts.

THE manager of the country's busiest private maternity hospital has warned that forcing private obstetricians out of practice due to unaffordable insurance would put an unbearable strain on public hospitals.

AN insurance scheme which the Government plans to introduce in January could leave some obstetricians in private practice without cover.

HOSPITAL consultants have accused Minister for Health Micheál Martin of jumping the gun by ordering the start of a contentious new medical negligence insurance scheme without their agreement.

HOSPITAL consultants are building up a war chest to mount a legal challenge against the Government if it introduces enterprise liability from next month.

EIGHTY women suing obstetricians for negligence could be left without any compensation unless the State picks up the multi-million euro tab for these doctors’ liabilities.

A BRITISH psychiatrist banned from practice in Britain has been cleared of any wrongdoing here opening the way for him to apply for work.

ONE of the two medical insurers providing cover for hospital consultants has warned it will not be able to afford payouts to victims of medical negligence under a Government plan to take over the handling of claims.