Hospital consultants have been warned that their concerns about insurance cover will not be addressed by the new Health Minister, Ms Harney, until they agree to a deadline for the completion of negotiations on a new contract which will change their working conditions, writes Eithne Donnellan, Health Correspondent.
The warning, which has shocked consultants, came from Department of Health officials when a planned meeting between representatives of the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) and Department officials was cancelled on Tuesday night.
The meeting was to be a continuation of an ongoing series of meetings with Department officials which began during the tenure of former health minister Mr Micheál Martin on the refusal by the Medical Defence Union (MDU) to cover a number of consultants for past claims, even though the consultants had paid it insurance premiums over the years.
Mr Finbarr Fitzpatrick, secretary of the IHCA, said last night "well-placed persons in the Department" had said the issue of State cover for those whose insurance had been withdrawn by the MDU would not be dealt with until the consultants agreed to a date, "not for commencement of talks on a new contract, but for their conclusion".
The new get tough stance of officials since Ms Harney arrived in the Department emerged yesterday in an IHCA circular to its members. The circular, seen by The Irish Times, referred to Ms Harney's "change of policy" on the indemnity issue and the fact that State indemnity for consultants refused cover by the MDU "will only be available when a new contract has been negotiated. This is clearly unacceptable to the IHCA."
However, late last night a spokesman for Ms Harney appeared to distance the Minister from the comments of officials in her Department. "The Tánaiste has indicated that she is ready, willing and able to address all issues of concern between the Government and consultants including the MDU, cover for past liabilities, the Government's reform programme, hiring of new consultants and the new consultant contract," he said.
"The Tánaiste believes that consultants are central to finding solutions to the issues that have bedevilled the health service and that this process should now be conducted in a speedy and effective manner."
Furthermore, he claimed that Tuesday night's meeting with the IHCA had been cancelled by mutual agreement. "The Department has not said there will be no further meetings," he added.
Mr Fitzpatrick said he stood over his recollection of events. "I'm absolutely clear in my own mind, what was sought was a date for conclusion of contract talks before the other issue was sorted out."
The IHCA has been refusing to enter contract negotiations until the indemnity issue has been addressed. This has held up the Government's health service reform programme, which requires that consultants' contracts be renegotiated to ensure a consultant provided service is available at all times. At present it is mainly junior doctors who provide night-time cover in hospitals.
Mr Fitzpatrick said the Department's latest stance would be discussed at the IHCA's annual conference in Kilkenny this weekend. He indicated further industrial action will be considered over the Department's failure to resolve the indemnity issue.
"We are not going to accept a gun to the head," he said.