Insurance scheme will hit hospitals, warn consultants

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.

Harry Canning, general manager of the Bon Secours Hospital in Cork city, said public hospitals would not be able to cope with the extra patients.

"We deliver almost one-third of babies in this region and we have 20,000 in-patient admissions in a year. If our consultants are forced out of business because of insurance costs, where are the private patients going to go and at what cost to the taxpayer?

"It costs in the region of €6 million to deliver these babies (based on €3,000 for delivery and a three-night stay). If they are forced into the public system, the taxpayer will pick up the tab."

Mr Canning said forcing private obstetricians out of business would also mean an end to patient choice, where patients would have to go public.

Mr Canning's concerns spring from the Government's plan to introduce a new insurance scheme for consultants from January 1. The new Clinical Indemnity (enterprise liability) scheme would mean an end to a special arrangement between obstetricians and the Government where funds are in essence ring-fenced for payout of claims against obstetricians. Under the existing arrangement, when obstetricians' subscriptions are exhausted, the Government will pay over and above what is needed to meet the claim.

Dr John Hickey, chief executive of the Medical Protection Society, with whom 60% of Irish consultants are insured, said his concern was the new scheme would end this arrangement. Consultants are also concerned that the State is refusing to take responsibility for claims by patients who suffered injury prior to the new scheme but are only successful in court at a later date.

Health Minister Micheál Martin has already claimed this will save the taxpayer €400 million.

Dr David Corr, consultant obstetrician at the Bon Secours said consultants were appalled by the minister's attitude.

"He told us he has no brief with the private sector and we are very depressed by that especially when many of us are his own constituents."

Dr Corr said the uncertainty surrounding the whole enterprise liability scheme also meant the hospital would find it difficult to recruit new consultants because of huge potential hikes in insurance premiums. The MPS has already warned members that obstetrician subscriptions could rise from €78,000 to €300,000 if the State cannot guarantee the continuation of special arrangement funding.

Consultant radiologist at the Bons, Dr Eamon Carmody said non-obstetrican members of the MPS were also concerned that they may be hit with insurance premium hikes down the line.