Union stops covering obstetricians

THE Government is under pressure to bail out the Medical Defence Union (MDU), which is now threatening to leave consultants financially exposed to negligence claims.

The cash-strapped British insurance body informed Irish obstetricians last week that they could no longer expect to be covered for new and existing claims.

Individual letters were sent to the consultants last Wednesday after talks between the MDU and the Department of Health broke down.

MDU chief executive, Dr Michael Saunders, said a decision was taken 10 days ago to pull out of negotiations because it believed the department did not intend to reach an agreement on the issue.

The MDU's estimate of future liability for unreported historic obstetric claims is around €170 million, well below the department's figure, calculated by an independent actuary at €400 million.

It is now believed the department accepts it is going to have to foot the bill for medical negligence cases the question is how much.

The department's secretary general, Michael Kelly, wrote last week to the MDU seeking a resumption of talks and Dr Saunders wrote back last Friday saying he would be happy to meet him.

The Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) will be urging the MDU to re-enter negotiations with the department immediately when it meets board members in London today .

The IHCA, which deferred industrial action to allow both sides to reach an agreement, will also meet with department officials on Friday, and the situation will be reviewed at its national council meeting Saturday.

Dr Saunders said they did not have sufficient funds to meet its obstetrics liabilities in Ireland because it did not take in enough money from Irish consultants in the form of subscriptions. Some claims date to the 1980s.