The Minister of Health, Mr Micheal Martin, has described as "rubbish" claims that his Department has mishandled a dispute over insurance cover for hospital consultants.
Mr Martin was responding to criticism from the Irish Hospital Consultants' Association, who are threatening to strike in two weeks' time in protest over a new insurance scheme which they say does not adequately cover their members and was introduced without their agreement.
Mr Matin said he was "very angry" at the Association's threat to go on strike and that the IHCA's strategy was "fundamentally undermining the Government's attempts to protect taxpayers from a huge bill for historical malpractice claims" against doctors.
He said: "The entire strategy by consultants was threatening to bring the house down".
Hospital consultants have threatened to escalate their industrial action to include withdrawal of all non-emergency care in their dispute with the Department of Health over insurance coverage.
The IHCA, which represents 1,350 practicing and 150 retired consultants, has been enbroiled in a row with the Department over a new insurance scheme, known as enterprise liability.
Under the scheme, which was introduced on February 1st, consultants would not be covered for insurance claimsarising out of alleged malpractice before the scheme was introduced. According to the IHCA, their members could face "financial ruin" as a result of the scheme, which they claim was introduced without their agreement.
The consultants were previously covered by the Medical Defence Union, which says it is only able to cover historical claims by charging high current and future premiums.
Between 80 and 90 per cent of the cost of this cover for Irish doctors was met by the Department of Health. Under the new arrangements, the IHCA claims its members would have to pay more than they earn in insurance premiums to ensure cover.
Dr Colm Quigley, the IHCA President, said there was now "widespread anger" among the association's membership. He said they were "driven" to this dispute by the Mr Martin's failure to honour a promise he made in July last year to only introduce the arrangements after full consultation with doctors. "If unresolved, this dispute will see consultants curtailing their services for the first time ever," he said today.
The IHCA action began last week, when members stopped participating in contract negotiations, Hanly Report Implementation Groups and National Committees. Yesterday, they also withdrew from local interview panels within hospitals, and ceased their duties as medical administrators and clinical directors.
They plan to escalate their action next week by suspending National Treatment Fund Purchase work in all hospitals, and finally, they are threatening to withdraw all cover except emergency services on February 23rd.
However, the association insisted that no patient would suffer as a result. "We will continue to provide care for anyone that is ill in hospital," Dr Quigley said. "This is not something that we willingly want to go into."
Representatives from the Department of Health and Children are meeting the Medical Defence Union, which represents the IHCA, in London tomorrow. However, Mr Finbarr Fitzpatrick, IHCA Chairman, warned that even if there was "white smoke" after this meeting, they would be "exceedingly cautious" about suspending their industrial action unless they had a legally binding assurance from the Government.
The IHCA wants the MDU to continue to provide insurance for claims
arising from historical liabilities for all non-obstetricians. In the case of obstetricians, who are non-insurable due to the high level of claims against them, they want the Department to recognise doctors' "inability to pay" awards, some of which can reach up to €4 million, and provide State indemnity for them.
Each obstetrician can be expected to face three claims every two years, compared to one every seven years for non-obstetricians and one every 40 years for GPs. There are an average 50,000 births each year in Ireland. Dr Quigley said there was "no doubt" the Government should take on some of the historic liability of obstetricians. The exact proportion "was yet to be negotiated".
Mr Martin has estimated the cost to the taxpayer of claims against obstetricians could reach €800 million. However, Mr Fitzpatrick, said he did not accept this figure, claiming it was closer to €150 million.
Mr Fitzpatrick said they were balloting their members on the industrial action, the results of which are expected tomorrow. He said they had "100 per cent" from other medical unions, including the Irish Medical Organistion, who are also objecting to the new insurance arrangements.
The IHCA is also meeting the Health Service Employers' Agency on Thursday afternoon.