Consultants refuse to rule out compo bid

HOSPITAL consultants have refused to rule out seeking compensation for co-operating with the plan to free up 1,000 beds for public patients.

Tánaiste and Health Minister Mary Harney has proposed building new private hospitals on the campuses of public hospitals to which 1,000 private patients will be transferred.

Ms Harney, however, is adamant the new hospitals will only be built where consultants accept there is no question of them being compensated.

Assistant secretary general of the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA), Donal Duffy said the change from the current public/private bed mix would form part of the negotiations with the department on a new contract for consultants. Contract talks are due to begin in October.

Mr Duffy welcomed the Tánaiste's initiative, saying there were public/private hospital models already in existence in Dublin St Vincent's and the Mater and they appeared to be working well together.

Ms Harney is hopeful negotiations with consultants on their new contract will be completed by the end of the year.

"The current consultants' contract is archaic and there is a need for them to have greater options. The option to have a full-time private practice would be something I would be a strong fan of and we need to recognise the role of research and teaching," she said.

Meanwhile, lobbyists campaigning against the downgrading of small hospitals claim Ms Harney's proposal will deepen the cracks in an already inequitable healthcare system.

The Health Services Action Group (HSAG) said the minister seemed determined to rely on the private sector to fill the craters in the public system, where access to health care depends on the ability to pay.

The Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) is concerned that, if public facilities continue to be used for the private patients, public patients will have to wait longer for diagnostic tests and /or procedures.

Vice president of the Irish Medical Organisation, Dr Christine O'Malley, pointed out that private hospitals do not take emergencies, yet 71% of all admissions to public hospitals are emergencies.

Fine Gael deputy leader and finance spokesman, Richard Bruton, called for greater scrutiny of Ms Harney's proposals by the Dáil and the Comptroller and Auditor General.