Consultants find ‘gagging clause’ hard to swallow in contract talks

HOSPITAL consultants last night reported progress in talks on a new contract, including an improvement in a ‘gagging clause’ that would have prevented them from speaking out on behalf of patients.

Finbarr Fitzpatrick, general secretary of the Irish Hospital Consultants’ Association (IHCA), said health employers had agreed that consultants could continue to advocate on behalf of patients.

As the contract proposal stands, prior approval will still have to be sought from hospital bosses before airing hospital issues publicly, which Mr Fitzpatrick said falls far short of the existing contract.