REACTION from the representative medical organisations to the hospital consultants' report on pay and conditions was mixed, yesterday.
The Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) was strongly critical, but the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) said it was relieved to see the report finally published.
The IHCA "broadly welcomed" a number of the non-pay proposals but said it would not comment on other aspects until they were discussed at an e.g.m. this Sunday. It particularly welcomed the proposals for public hospital management structures, which if implemented should result in "a more balanced system orientated to the needs of patients".
The proposals are compatible with the PCW and "contain nothing which disturbs national pay policy", said Mr Finbarr Fitzpatrick, the IHCA general secretary.
However, the IMO said if the report forms the sole basis for the next round of negotiations there would be "serious difficulties".
According to estimates, some pay increases for consultants will be as low as £500, while the highest increase will be £4,800.
A fundamental flaw in the report was it did not take into account the "realities of the health service and the relationship between consultants and patients", said Mr Conal Devine, the IMO's director of industrial relations.
In real terms consultants have had only an 11 per cent increase since 1989 compared with a 45 per cent increase for High Court judges and the secretary of the Department of Health.
Many consultants will be at a loss, according to Mr Devine. "There are so many clawbacks it is hardly worth it," he said.
Over the next two weeks the organisation will be meeting members around the State to discuss the recommendations.
The IMO outlined a number of areas of concern, mainly the new recommended structure which it says will "undermine the autonomy of clinical consultants to make decisions in the best interests of the patients".
The proposed incorporation into consultants' basic salary of a significant number" of conditions of service which are presently remunerated outside the" basic salary effectively means a real reduction in terms and conditions if the report is implemented.
The IMO believes the proposals will convince many consultants to relocate their private in-patient practice from public hospital sites, reducing the potential income available to public hospitals from private patients.