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The British-based Medical Defence Union has withdrawn insurance coverage for 11 Irish consultants.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.

In the current litigious environment, that would seem to be only a matter of time.

The consultants have been demanding an assurance in writing, and IHCA president Dr Josh Keaveny talked in terms of an ultimatum to compel the minister to provide such an assurance within two months.

He added that, in the interim, the consultants would not negotiate with her without the assurance.

A negotiator for the IHCA described the minister as “desperate”, because she has staked her political career on resolving the health crisis.

The consultants will be making a dreadful mistake if they try to play politics with this on the basis of any perceived political weakness on her part.

Her determination to resolve the crisis as quickly as possible is as admirable as her courage in taking on a ministry that has been considered a kind of poisoned chalice.

In the circumstances, it is difficult to ascertain whether the initial hostile response on the part of some spokespeople for the consultants was an exhibition or arrogance or immaturity. The consultants should recognise that they must consult with the Government, not dictate to it.

Ms Harney reaffirmed, on the national airways, her assurance that nobody would be left without cover in the current situation. She has further indicated that she will be writing to the consultants to confirm her assurance.

The insurance question involves very complex legal issues, and she has invited the consultants to co-operate with the Department of Health in teasing these out properly. It is to be hoped that they will accept this invitation without preconditions or any grandstanding seeking to exploit any perceived political weakness on her part. In reality, she is probably in a stronger political position to deliver than any of her predecessors.

The minister was clear that the Government is committed to putting more resources into healthcare, but she emphasised that this was “only in the context of reform that will have measurable improvement for patients, and they have to come first”. A new administrative structure is due to be implemented next year, and she has called for the co-operation of the consultants in helping to identify other necessary reforms.

Both sides recognise the need for reform, as a great deal of money was being squandered on the old inefficient health board system. In the last analysis, the measurable improvement in the health service is the criterion by which all of them will be judged.