Patients’ group appeals to hospital consultants to suspend industrial action

A PATIENTS’ group last night appealed to hospital consultants to suspend their industrial action as more than 200 patients due for operations this week have had their procedures cancelled.

As talks in the row over insurance cover for medical malpractice continue, it emerged that any lengthy dispute could lead to a cancellation of surgery and out-patient appointments for more than 40,000 patients.

Stephen McMahon, who heads the Irish Patients Association (IPA), said: “It’s in everyone’s interests the dispute is resolved.

“We hope the talks will bring about a mutual satisfactory conclusion but, in advance of any likely breakthrough, we would appeal to the consultants to defer their industrial action.”

Mr McMahon said the independent patients’ group is scheduled to meet today with the consultants’ former insurers, the British-based Medical Defence Union. Later in the week, the IPA is also due to meet the Irish Hospitals Consultants Association (IHCA).

“We share an understanding of the concerns of the IHCA and its members,” said Mr McMahon, “but our primary concerns are the patients and, especially, long-suffering patients awaiting treatment under the National Treatment Purchase Fund.”

Discussions between the Department of Health and the MDU were followed last evening by talks with the IHCA and their former insurers. Finbarr Fitzpatrick, secretary general of the IHCA, said yesterday: “We remain heartened that the department and the MDU have met for a fourth time within a fortnight.”

“We also met with department officials last Friday where we were given an update on the talks. Department officials confirmed there was progress but did not disclose the specifics.”

The dispute centres on the provision of insurance cover for medical negligence claims, yet to be settled.

Concerned consultants insist they will be left personally liable for any past alleged negligence following the introduction on February 1 last of a new department-backed enterprise liability scheme.

The estimated cost of past liabilities could top €120 million.

The department rejected an offer from the MDU to provide up to €60 million to cover previous liabilities.

Consultants yesterday withdrew from administrative duties in hospitals and cancelled all planned operations under the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF).

From Monday next, all procedures, with the exception of emergency cover, will be halted.

The NTPF yesterday estimated that 200 planned procedures will be cancelled this week. Patients scheduled for operations under the fund in Northern Ireland or English hospitals will not be affected.

A spokesperson for the NTPF said it would continue to monitor the situation.