Martin in talks with consultants over claims' cover

NEGOTIATIONS between hospital consultants and the Minister for Health Micheál Martin on the abolition of lawsuit cover will continue later today.

The Government wants the consultants to sign up to a central agency to deal with all claims against the State.

The vast majority of the exorbitant cost of insurance cover for public hospital consultants is paid by the Government. Minister for Health Micheál Martin met with hospital consultants and family doctors last night, but made no comment about talks progress.

It is thought he will meet officials from the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA ) again today.

But the minister's spokesman refused to comment on reports the department wanted to introduce the new system by next month.

At present, consultants are insured against patients' claims by two British companies, but the Government believes using the State Claims Agency would be more efficient and cheaper.

However, the IHCA is opposed to this enterprise liability system, where public consultants would be insured by the State, as it would mean private hospital consultants insurance premia would be far higher.

Using the State Claims Agency to deal with claims would result in legal costs dramatically reduced and cases dealt with quicker.

Consultants are also concerned the agency would settle too many cases thereby damaging their professional reputations.

Last night, a planned debate among Fianna Fáil TDs and senators on the Government's planned health reforms was postponed.

FF senators Eamonn Scanlon and Mark MacSharry have tabled a motion to the FF parliamentary party on abolition of the health boards which will probably be debated next week instead.

This Friday the Dáil will debate the Brennan report in health funding and the Prospectus reports into health structures for three hours.