Consultant pay proposals criticised by medical group

The Government’s new pay proposals for hospital consultants will fail in its aim to attract urgently-needed high calibre senior doctors, a medical representative organisation has claimed.

The Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) said the revised proposals meant that consultants appointed after autumn 2012 would still be earning 20 per cent less than their counterparts employed before that date after 4 years in service.

It said the proposals would fail to deliver pay parity for consultants even after 9 years of service.

The IHCA was not invited to take part in the talks which led to the new pay offer as it has refused to sign up to the Haddington Road agreement on public service pay and productivity.

IHCA president Dr Gerard Crotty said: "These revised proposals will drive potential new consultants abroad, who expect parity with their colleagues because they have the same demanding responsibilities for the delivery of high quality patient care.

“ This is a major concern for acute services which have in excess of 250 consultant vacancies that cannot be filled. Hospitals throughout the country have consultant posts vacant in specialties which already had low numbers of consultants on a per capita basis to start with, making it impossible to continue to provide safe high quality care to patients. This has already impacted adversely on patient care and safety.”

On Tuesday members of the Irish Medical Organisation voted to back the new pay proposals.

The Government intends to advertise for about 200 consultants on the revised salary levels.

In 2012 the Government unilaterally cut salaries for hospital consultants appointed after autumn of that year by 30 per cent. Medical organisations have argued the move led to a “brain drain” with many doctors opting to work abroad.

Positions vacant

About 300 hospital consultant positions in public hospitals are currently vacant.

For doctors working exclusively in public hospitals with no private practice - the so-called category A contract - the entry rate under the new proposals will be €127,000. This will increase on foot of nine performance-related incremental rises to a maximum of €175,000.

Doctors with experience can enter the Irish health system on the sixth point of the scale which has a pay rate of €155,000.

Heads of departments will receive up to €180,000 and clinical directors up to €190,000.

The new proposals indicate that in future consultants’ performances would be measured in relation to a number of criteria, including the extent of their private practice and other work that resulted in additional income.

Consultants with rights to carry out private practice will receive lower salaries as part of the proposals.

For consultants currently in posts, the new pay rates will be back-dated to last September.