FG: Consultants must share pain of cutbacks

FINE GAEL health spokesman James Reilly has committed his party to severely cutting the massive earnings of hospital consultants.

Addressing health professional representative organisations at a special medical hustings in Dublin yesterday, Dr Reilly said the situation where consultants were mixing public and private practice — to earn in some cases in excess of €300,000 — was not “sustainable”.

Dr Reilly said “this is a society we live in” and all its members must “share the pain” of cutbacks.

A former president of the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO), Dr Reilly said even taking into account the years of study and training that consultants undertake, the situation that some were earning considerably in excess of €200,000 had to end.

Dr Reilly added that Fine Gael would not privatise VHI as part of universal health insurance proposals.

Labour party health spokeswoman Jan O’Sullivan was joined by Dr Reilly in committing to a review of reconfiguration plans that would see the ending of many services at Limerick’s Mid-Western Regional Hospital. She also said Labour was committed to creating a position of chief dental officer to advise the incoming health minister.

Recently appointed Fianna Fáil health spokesman Barry Andrews said he didn’t “claim to be an expert in the health sector” but as minister for children had experience of the HSE. He said the HSE should be allowed continue its 10-year “reform” plan.

Representing Sinn Féin, Dublin south-east election candidate Ruadhan MacAodháin said his party was committed to creating a health service funded through direct taxation and free at the point of delivery. Mr MacAodháin said Sinn Féin saw the British National Health Service as it operated prior to the 1980s, as the best model of health provision for Ireland.