Harney’s plan for 1,500 more consultants ‘flawed’

HOSPITAL consultants yesterday accused Health Minister Mary Harney of trying to deflect public attention away from the ills of the health service with her plan to recruit an additional 1,500 consultants.

The Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) said Ms Harney’s proposal was fundamentally flawed because those appointed to the new posts — restricted to public hospitals — would not have adequate resources to operate effectively.

“The minister should be honest with patients and taxpayers and explain in detail her plans to equip these consultants without the patient clinics, theatres, hospital beds and secretaries necessary to support patient care,” said IHCA assistant general secretary, Donal Duffy. “There are consultants in this country at present without access to these critical facilities”

Ms Harney intends to bring proposals to Cabinet next Tuesday outlining the new contract for consultants coming into the health service. Her move follows a breakdown in contract negotiations between health service employers and the consultants. Yesterday Ms Harney said: “I have to pursue policy and I will be bringing to the Government on Tuesday an outline timetable and timeframe for the introduction of a new contract. We can put coalition governments together in two weeks, and we have been nearly two years talking around a table where no progress has been made and time is running out.”

Ms Harney previously said she would legislate, if necessary, to introduce the contracts, a position endorsed at the weekend by Tánaiste and Justice Minister Michael McDowell. However, yesterday she said this would be a last resort. “Clearly if we want to set aside existing contracts that would require legislation, there would obviously have to be compensation as well, but that’s not a route I would wish to go.”

The row between the HSE and IHCA is likely to surface at the HSE monthly board meeting on Thursday.