Consultants seek to change insurance plan

The Minister for Health will this afternoon hold talks with hospital consultants to try to agree a new system for insuring them.

Facing a February 1st, deadline the Irish Hospital Consultants' Association (IHCA) called for negotiations on aspects of the plan they think will cause problems for consultants.

Mr Finbarr Fitzpatrick, IHCA secretary general, said there were flaws in the plan, particularly the omission of cover for "Good Samaritan" acts - such as assisting a road traffic victim. The Irish Medical Organisation will also attend the talks.

According to Mr Fitzpatrick, consultants will have to pay to insure themselves to provide free emergency medical aid under the scheme as it stands.

The new insurance scheme, known as enterprise liability, will not provide cover for consultants working only in private practice.

Future claims against consultants arising out of alleged malpractice on a date before the new scheme comes into operation will not be covered under Mr Martin's plans. According to the Department of Health, historic liabilities should be covered by the insurance company that insured the consultant when errors where are made.

Agreeing the new insurance plan on schedule is a key step in the Department's ability to move ahead with its reforms.

Central to that reform is reorganising hospital services around 24-hour, consultant-led services, in line with recommendations in the Government-backed Hanly report.