Consultants’ row - Harney bid to settle crisis to be applauded

Health Minister Mary Harney assured the conference of the Irish Hospital Consultants’ Association (IHCA) in Kilkenny that no patient or family will be left without insurance compensation and that “no consultant will be left exposed either”.

But that was not enough for some of the consultants.

The British-based Medical Defence Union has withdrawn insurance coverage for 11 Irish consultants. Their colleagues threatened strike action, and there was even talk at the conference of the “nuclear option” of withdrawing the services of consultants for all but medical emergencies, if any of their colleagues was sued.