Consultants seek legal advice on Cabinet’s insurance vow

Hospital consultants are reportedly seeking legal advice about the Government’s latest assurances before deciding whether to call off industrial action planned for next month.

The doctors are planning to cease all non-emergency duties from March 14 due to a long-running dispute over their insurance cover.

The row has been simmering since the Government set up a state indemnity scheme for consultants to replace their private insurance arrangement with the British Medical Defence Union.

The MDU has since refused to meet compensation awards arising out of negligence claims relating to the time when it was receiving premia from Irish doctors, who now fear they could be forced to pay this compensation themselves.

Earlier this week, the Cabinet approved a letter to the Irish Hospital Consultants Association and the Irish Medical Organisation promising that the state would meet any compensation awards that the MDU refused to pay.

Reports this morning said the two organisations are now seeking legal advice on the letter and will not make a decision on whether to cancel their planned industrial action until Saturday at the earliest.