Harney gives reassurance on lawsuit cover for doctors

Hospital patients and consultants will not be left exposed due to problems over lawsuit cover for doctors, the Tánaiste said tonight.

Newly-appointed health minister Mary Harney said she hoped the department could work with hospital consultants in an atmosphere of “mutual respect and understanding“.

Ms Harney, who was addressing the annual meeting of the Irish Hospital Consultants Associations (IHCA) today in Kilkenny, assured patients that no one would be left without compensation.

She also moved to reassure her audience as she stated no doctor would be left exposed due to difficulties with any medical insurance firm.

The IHCA, led by president Dr Josh Keaveny, had earlier stated it would not enter talks on new contracts unless the long-running problems over malpractice insurance were solved.

Doctors have been expressing concern at the problem eight obstetricians and three other consultants faced after the Medical Defence Union (MDU) refused them protection. The MDU said it would not cover them despite the individuals having paid regular subscriptions.

Problems also arose last February after the Health Department introduced a state indemnity scheme run by the State Claims Agency, without consultants approval.

The IHCA said solving the shortage of hospital beds should be the “number one priority” and called for 4,000 more, as well as a further 200 beds a year to cover the growing population.

Ms Harney had already stated that urgent reforms were needed to transform the health sector. She told the Kilkenny conference that she looked forward to holding formal discussions with consultants.

The health minister warned patients could not wait forever for the long promised “world-class health service“.