Consultants on collision course with government

Some of the country’s best paid doctors are on a collision course with Government in a dispute that could end in pay cuts and potential legal action.

The rift widened yesterday after a highly charged day in which the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) and senior Government ministers came into direct confrontation.

The IHCA is refusing to turn up at tomorrow’s Labour Court meeting between it, the Irish Medical Organisation and the HSE.

The meeting was due to formalise detailed work practice changes between the HSE and the unions that were negotiated last month.

These specifically involved increasing the number of rostered/on-call days for consultants during a single 28 day period from 23 to 26; cutting mental health second opinion fees; and reductions in historic rest days not taken in previous years.

However, on Monday night and yesterday, the IHCA said it will not take part in the meeting as it does not believe these three issues fall within the Croke Park agreement boundaries.

While the union’s secretary general Martin Varley said its members will be surveyed on the proposals on Friday, he said officials cannot agree to the deal on their behalf.

Mr Varley also said patient safety is at the heart of the union’s view that it cannot agree to the new work proposals. “Basically what we have is the HSE throwing two or three issues into the Labour Court which shouldn’t be discussed at all.

“They’re not covered by Croke Park and in fact there are real concerns about patient safety, patient care and even safety of consultants.

“You can’t expect any professional nowadays to be on call every night, every weekend, in additional to their normal work for 26 days out of 28,” he said.

The position caused a furious reaction from the HSE and Government, with both HSE director of industrial relations Barry O’Brien and Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Brendan Howlin warning the stance could result in pay cuts.

While such a move would need new legislation to be passed by the Dáil, Mr Howlin said the IHCA cannot “pick and choose” from the Croke Park deal and will have their pay packets targeted if they do not agree to work practice changes.

In a clear reference to the pay of consultants, some of whom earn in excess of €200,000 a year, Mr Howlin said: “I’m of the view that you can’t be part of a collective agreement for the things that protect you but exclude it from a collective agreement for the things that challenge you.

“We expect all unions representing some of the lowest paid in the public service to fully embrace Croke Park and some of the highest paid in the public service will also have to engage.”

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland programme, Mr Varley did not rule out the possibility of his union taking legal action if pay cuts are attempted.

The Labour Court meeting between the HSE and IMO is due to take place tomorrow without the presence of the IHCA.