Consultants threaten renewed strike in insurance row impasse

HOSPITAL consultants yesterday called for an independent facilitator to head up talks to resolve a crisis over medical insurance cover.

If the row drags on, they intend asking all their members to vote in early September to reinstate deferred industrial action.

"A strike would be an absolute disaster," Irish Hospital Consultants' Association (IHCA) president Dr Josh Keaveny told a media briefing. "It would not suit our patients and it would not suit us," he said.

Britain's Medical Defence Union (MDU) recently decided to stop providing secure cover for Irish consultants in private practice.

As a consequence, some 600 Irish consultants will be able to avail of discretionary cover only which means cover is not guaranteed in a rapidly rising claims environment.

Without State support, obstetrics will be uninsurable into the future, Dr Keaveny said.

The MDU estimates it faces €130 million in historic liabilities for its Irish obstetric members, having paid out €62m since 1977. The highest awards for cerebral palsy claims here amount to €5m.

The independent facilitator, mooted by the IHCA, would oversee resumed talks between Department of Health officials and the MDU. Despite putting off industrial action last February to allow for talks, the consultants claim no progress has been made.

Dr Keaveny said there was a serious threat the MDU could now refuse cover for individual consultants and this would pose a crisis not only for consultants, but for patients and ultimately the general public.

An actuarial report for the Department of Health is believed to state that historical liabilities relating to obstetrics claims could exceed €450 million.

The consultants claim the department has been aware of the rising problem for 10 years and has primary responsibility for the current "shambles".

MDU is now seeking premiums from consultants equal to between 20% to 30% of their gross incomes for discretionary cover, IHCA chief negotiator Professor Michael O'Keeffe said.

Prof O'Keeffe claimed these signalled premium levels from July 1 could only be interpreted as MDU wanting to exit the Irish market as the company had done in several other countries.

While the MDU explains its position at a meeting with Irish consultant members in Dublin today, the department maintains the MDU has only itself to blame for not collecting sufficient income from its Irish members to meet its historic liabilities.