Consultants: 100% of work changes for half agreed pay rise

HOSPITAL consultants have raised concern over Health Minister Mary Harney’s plans to cut costs in the health service, claiming that despite agreeing to “100%” of reforms they will only be paid half of the promised salary increase.

Responding to the minister’s announcement of new budget proposals for the health service this year, the Irish Hospital Consultants Association said that while the plans brought an end to “uncertainty” over the new consultant contract, doctors were not receiving the previously detailed pay rise.

According to the medical union, as part of the long drawn-out consultant contract agreement, senior medics have been asked to increase their time at work by 20% and to be available over longer hours from 8am to 8pm.

In addition, the union said it has agreed to clinical directors being appointed at hospitals and weekend shifts.

However, despite signing up to “100%” of the proposals, association assistant secretary general Donal Duffy said consultants were being asked to accept only 50% of the promised pay increase.

The announcement brings to an end the growing uncertainty many consultants had about the Government’s commitment to health reform. We look forward to bedding in the necessary changes agreed as part of the new consultants’ contract.

“Consultants are acutely aware of the nation’s economic difficulties. We will give the most serious consideration to the minister’s statement with regard to her position on the final salary instalment due next June.

“At this stage consultants have delivered on 100% of the changes asked for and will get 50% of the pay increase agreed,” read the association statement.

The comment came after Ms Harney announced wide-ranging plans to save €147m more in the health service and help tackle the ongoing “financial pressures”.

Among the key proposals put forward include the sanctioning of only part-payment of the new consultant contract salary rates — meaning that €147m less than planned will be paid to consultants from the start of 2008 until the end of this year — with allowances and call-out payments also being withheld.

The allocation to the National Treatment Purchase Fund is also being reduced by €10m.

“The NTPF will seek to maintain service levels by achieving cost reductions in the services it purchases for patients,” said a Department of Health spokesperson.