Harney eyes international consultants

The global search for 2,000 extra hospital consultants can begin now that an agreement has been reached on new contracts, Health Minister Mary Harney said today.

Ms Harney revealed that once the new deal on work practices is approved by consultants, they could start on new contracts within three months.

She said she hoped the recruitment process for more specialists then could begin worldwide.

A breakthrough in the five year dispute emerged late last night after a third day of tough negotiations between officials from the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA), Health Service Executive (HSE) and Health Department.

Donal Duffy, IHCA Assistant General Secretary, said he was confident the deal would be accepted by members at a meeting on February 15.

“Early indications from around the country is that this is a good deal for everybody,” he added.

Under the new contract, the HSE said consultants could now choose from three salary brackets between 170,000-240,000 euro. They will only be entitled to treat an agreed number of private patients outside the public hospital campus.

The length of the working week will be extended from 33 to 37 hours.

The Irish Medical Organisation (IMO), which withdrew from the negotiations earlier this week, has also made contact again with talks chairman Mark Connaughton SC.

Ms Harney said she was pleased with the agreement from IHCA, but noted consultants now had to vote on the new contract.

“I would anticipate that there may be a three month period from the time it’s put to their members and accepted and that consultants would opt for one of the new contracts or stay in the existing contracts,” she told RTE.

“We have always set out to attract as many consultants as possible to a new contract of employment because we want to employ up to 2,000 more consultants in areas of the health service which badly need them.

“We haven’t reached agreement with the IMO, they withdrew from the talks earlier this week, but they were with us on this journey over the last number of years and I think when they reflect on what’s being agreed I hope that their members too will accept the new agreement.”