Contracts deadline ‘not possible’

REACHING agreement on new contracts for hospital consultants by the Government’s deadline of next Tuesday will be impossible, a doctor’s group warned yesterday.

Chairman of the independent talks, Mark Connaughton, was asked by the Cabinet to produce a conclusive report on the day.

But the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO), which represents more than 800 consultants, said they did not believe it was possible to meet the deadline.

IMO consultant leader Sean Tierney said while it was possible to reach agreement before the General Election, he did not think a deal could be struck by next Tuesday.

He also warned that the hospital system would become unworkable if Health Minister Mary Harney proceeded to unilaterally recruit consultants on a range of new contracts in parallel with existing contracts.

“It is not conducive to providing continuity of care and equity of access to patients,” he stressed.

At a briefing in advance of the IMO’s annual conference next month, the organisation’s director of industrial relations, Fintan Hourihan, said the talks had reached a crucial stage and both sides were still grappling with significant issues.

While the doctors group was very committed to the talks, he did not believe anyone involved expected them to conclude by next Tuesday. Mr Hourihan stressed, however, that it would not be helpful at this stage for the doctor’s group to be responding to doomsday scenarios.

He also pointed out that Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said his preference was a negotiated settlement.

But former IMO president and consultant surgeon Asam Ishtiaq accused the Government of using diversionary tactics to sway public opinion in the run up to the General Election.

He pointed out that it was two years since he, and his colleagues, talked about an acute bed capacity crisis.

To turn around and say all health service problems will be solved by a new consultant contract and appointing more consultants is not going to solve the problem, Mr Ishtiaq said.

Last night the Irish Hospital Consultants’ Association (IHCA) said it had made progress in negotiations, but two areas remain deadlocked, including private off-site work contracts and a clause they say will make the bow to management.