IHCA to take action over medical insurance dispute

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.

The IHCA, which has in excess of 1,500 members who have never taken industrial action affecting patients, voted by an eight to one majority in favour of industrial action.

Industrial unrest within the medical service is due to commence on March 14 and will be staged in both public and private hospitals.

It will lead to the weekly cancellation of up to 50,000 procedures, including 40,000 scheduled surgeries and out-patient procedures.

The IHCA is due to meet with health service employers tomorrow to discuss arrangements for emergency cover.

The dispute centres on the Department of Health & Children’s failure to reach agreement to safeguard insurance cover for both patients and consultants.

The failure to resolve this issue means that patients taking legal action against consultants for procedures undertaken in the past are unlikely to receive full financial settlement and consultants involved in such claims could face financial ruin.

Dr Josh Keaveny, President of the IHCA, commenting on the results of the ballot said: “This strong vote is a reflection of the frustration felt by hospital consultants.

"None of us would be in this position if the Department of Health had not broken the contract it has with consultants, thereby leaving them without guaranteed insurance cover for past claims.

"We will carry out emergency procedures which make up the majority of consultants work. We will, however, be curtailing elective work from 14 March.”

“At this late stage, we again urge the department to give patients and doctors the assurance we need that claims for past incidents will be covered.”

Meanwhile, the Cabinet has endorsed the commitment given by Tánaiste Mary Harney to medical organisations, that no consultant will be left exposed and no patient left without compensation in all reasonable circumstances.

Consultants want the department to give legally binding assurances that neither patients nor consultants will be exposed in the event of the insurer, the Medical Defence Union, not meeting its obligations.