Consultants likely to reject contract offer

HOSPITAL consultants are likely to reject latest management proposals aimed at securing a contract when they meet today.

Assistant general secretary of the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA), Donal Duffy, said they had a document which, in their view, did not accurately reflect what was agreed last January.

The IHCA, which represents about 1,800 consultants, has warned management that the proposals were likely to be rejected by the association’s council meeting today.

“They have attempted to row back in a number of significant areas,” he pointed out.

Mr Duffy said they would be putting the document to the national council with a recommendation it be rejected.

Hospital consultants are unhappy with management proposals in a number of areas, including hours of work and private practice.

And the IHCA has described as “mind-bogglingly bizarre” proposed arrangements for academic medicine in hospital.

Mr Duffy said it had been suggested medical professors would no longer necessarily be responsible for undergraduate education and training in hospitals.

“That seems a very bizarre way to train future doctors if professors are not responsible and we don’t know who is, but it would not be a doctor by the looks of it,” he said.

The Irish Medical Organisation’s director of industrial relations, Fintan Hourihan, said there was great disappointment at the lack of progress in the talks in recent times.

Mr Hourihan said there was no prospect of anagreement following two days of plenary talks this week.

The IMO, which represents about 800 consultants, will also meet separately today to consider progress on the contract.

It is believed the consultant groups wanted a relaxation of the 80:20 public/private work ratio.

The consultants have pointed out those working in the new, co-located, private hospitals would have to pay for medical indemnity to see private patients in such hospitals. At present, such cover is not necessary to see fee-paying patients in public hospitals.

The introduction of a contract for hospital consultants is a key part of the Government’s overall healthcare reform plan.

Last January, Health Minister Mary Harney declared she believed she had secured a deal.

Health service management has accused consultants of trying to push out the boundaries of proposals for a contract drawn up by independent chairman, barrister, Mark Connaughton last October, and again in February.

While management had accepted Mr Connaughton’s proposals in full, the consultant groups had only done so with reservations.

Salary scales of up to €260,000 for consultants who opt to take the contract have been offered by management.

Earlier this month, Ms Harney insisted the demand by the IHCA for more than €300,000 a year for academic clinicians was a non-runner.