Patients' group slams consultants' planned strike

The Irish Patients Association has slammed plans by hospital consultants to take industrial action from next month due to a long-running row over insurance cover.

The row has been simmering since the Government introduced a state-run insurance scheme to replace that previously provided by the British Medical Defence Union (MDU).

The MDU has since refused to meet compensation awards arising from negligence claims dating to the time when it was the insurance provider.

The Government has attempted to defuse the situation by promising to meet any awards that the MDU refuses to pay out.

However, reports this morning said the Irish Medical Organisation believes the promise does not go far enough to alleviate its concerns.

The Irish Patients Association has called on both organisations to accept the Government's assurances and has described the consultants' plans to withdraw from non-emergency duties as unnecessary and unacceptable.

Spokesman Stephen McMahon said: "We're asking the various representative bodies of doctors to find another way to have the administrative and technical difficulties resolved in this issue and that no patient is used as a pawn in this unnecessary situation."