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Consultants to set up new panel of Irish expert witnesses Expert witness workshops for consultants welcomed as an important step towards addressing cost of medical negligence claims – IHCA Hospital Consultants from across the country are attending two workshops this week in Dublin as part of a drive to establish a panel of expert witnesses from the Irish medical community, to enhance standards of independence and excellence in medical negligence cases. The Expert Witness Training Workshops, organised by the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) and The Expert Witness Site, are taking place today (Tuesday 25th) and tomorrow (Wednesday 26th) at King’s Inns. The IHCA has partnered with The Expert Witness Site – an Irish organisation founded by barristers who source expert witnesses for legal teams involved in clinical negligence cases – to offer these masterclasses designed to reduce the Irish legal system’s reliance on overseas testimony. Led by experienced barristers, the workshops will give consultants a clear understanding of what acting as an expert witness entails, by enhancing their knowledge of current case law, explaining the duties of experts as established in court rules, and ensuring they do not fall into the common pitfalls often encountered by expert witnesses from home and abroad. The workshops form part of a wider move by the IHCA to champion a number of progressive reforms aimed at controlling the ever-increasing cost of medical negligence cases to the State and reducing the financial and emotional burden placed on patients and their families going through the claims process. These reforms also include: the introduction of pre-action protocols involving earlier disclosure of patient records, mediation and opportunities for settlement, with sanctions for any party who fails to adhere to them; the resumption of phased or periodic payments that spread the cost of claims over a lifetime; and a review of the real rate of return, which is the percentage applied by the courts to adjust the compensation awarded. Welcoming the workshops, the IHCA reiterated its call for the Government to fully implement the recommendations of the Department of Health’s 2024 report on the rising cost of health-related claims, which was chaired by Consultant Obstetrician and Specialist in Fetal and Maternal Medicine Prof Rhona Mahony and which recommended all of the above reforms.1 The Department of Health’s Expert Group report, chaired by the former Master of the National Maternity Hospital, was comprised of membership from across relevant government departments and agencies, and was established by former Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly, who at the time of its publication called for its recommendations to be “implemented without delay”.2 Commenting on the workshops and the need for reform, IHCA President Prof Gabrielle Colleran said the current protracted claims processes are not fit for purpose and are resulting in not only increased legal costs that are among the highest in the world, but also significant human costs resulting from the litigation process. “As an Association, we believe there is an urgency to address the spiralling cost of litigation that is draining both resources and morale from the health service. Despite a welcome reduction in the sum of medical negligence claims paid in 2024, the current estimated outstanding liability associated with the State Claims Agency claims portfolio is €5.35 billion3, which could rise further if the status quo continues unchecked. “Consultants want to see the reforms outlined in Prof Rhona Mahony’s report progressed without further delay, as not doing so will only increase the cost to the State and worsen the experience of the processes involved for patients. The parallel human cost of litigation is significant, and these reforms are required to improve the patient’s journey through the medical negligence process and ensure no further harm is done by its adversarial nature. We will continue to engage constructively with policymakers and stakeholders to ensure these reforms remain a top priority, while keeping the patient at the centre at all times. “This progressive partnership with The Expert Witness Site to hold these workshops this week is the start of a forward-thinking strategy whereby the Association will develop a panel of expert witnesses from our membership to ensure that the highest standards of independence and excellence in expert evidence are upheld – reducing our system’s reliance on overseas testimony and, in doing so, helping to cut costs and enhance credibility in our courts.” Commenting on the workshops, Barrister Eavanna FitzGerald, founder of The Expert Witness Site, added: “We are delighted to be collaborating with the IHCA on this hugely important project. The administration of justice relies on experienced professionals providing independent guidance to the court on their area of expertise; and the IHCA and their members are to be commended for leading the way in developing a panel of Irish Consultant Expert Witnesses who are fully informed as to the legal duties and responsibilities associated with the role.” Notes 1. Report of the Interdepartmental Working Group on the Rising Cost of Health-Related Claims: https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/interdepartmental-working-group-on-the-rising-cost-of-health-related-claims-2024-repor.pdf 2. Department of Health press statement, 19 September 2024: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-health/press-releases/minister-for-health-publishes-the-report-of-the-interdepartmental-working-group-on-the-rising-cost-of-health-related-claims/ 3. National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) Annual Report & Financial Statements 2024: https://www.ntma.ie/annualreport2024/documents/NTMA-Annual-Report-2024.pdf For further enquiries, please contact: John Paul Hughes, Head of Communications & Engagement, IHCA jphughes@ihca.ie - 085 77 66 393

IHCA Annual Conference 2025: Leading from the Frontline: Medical Negligence & Clinical Leadership IHCA Annual Conference highlights need for clinician-led healthcare reform Clinician-led leadership is the key to a fairer, safer, and more sustainable health service, the President of the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA), Professor Gabrielle Colleran, has stated ahead of the Association’s Annual Conference in Kilkenny.

Commenting on today’s (Tuesday, 29 July 2025) publication of the Medical Council’s ‘Medical Workforce Intelligence Report 2024’, the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) said it confirms what is already widely known, that Consultants and other doctors are routinely working in excessive of their contractual hours.

  The Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) supports the commitment in the updated National Development Plan for 2026 to 2035 to prioritise the digitalisation of the health service.    Commenting on the report today, IHCA President Prof Gabrielle Colleran said the full roll-out of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) will be a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to transform the Irish health services’ digital infrastructure and help dramatically improve patient care.    “We fully endorse and support the decision in the National Development Plan to prioritise health digitalisation. This would be transformational in nature and a once-in-a-generation opportunity to catch up on other countries where digital health records are the norm, enhancing productivity, healthcare outcomes, and service experience for citizens.”     

The Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) has urged the public to be vigilant for fraudulent advertisements circulating on social media platforms in which doctors purport to endorse unauthorised products or services.       The IHCA has been contacted by a number of its members in recent weeks to highlight that their name and image have been used without permission to promote dubious medicines or medical products.       The advertisements included fake recommendations for products such as digestive remedies and slimming medicines, which are likely to be from untrustworthy suppliers. Using these unauthorised products could pose unforeseen health risks.       Many of the advertisements also feature the names and logos of legitimate advocacy groups and health organisations, such as the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), without their permission. Although the advertisements are generally removed shortly after a complaint is submitted, they often reappear within a matter of hours using a different doctor’s name and image.       “Our members are deeply concerned that their identities are being stolen in order to lend these unauthorised products an air of legitimacy in the eyes of an unsuspecting public,” IHCA Chief Executive Jim Daly said.       “Not only are they undermining doctors’ hard-earned professional reputations, but these products could undermine people’s health and wellbeing. We are urging everyone to be on alert if they see such advertisements online.”       The IHCA has urged the public to be extremely cautious if they come across such advertisements online and to avoid any products that appear unfamiliar to them or appear to offer miracle cures. It also reminded the public that it is illegal for prescription drugs to be sold online and to avoid any websites that purport to do so.        Anyone looking for advice on medicines or products should instead contact a qualified medical professional, such as their local doctor, nurse or pharmacy.       The IHCA also urged legislators at national and EU level to take more effective action to tackle the proliferation of such fraudulent advertisements.       “This is a phenomenon that doesn’t just affect consultants – professionals in other sectors have also had their good names’ used to endorse bogus products without their permission. The existing safeguards to prevent this abuse of trust clearly aren’t functioning properly and a new approach is now needed,” Mr Daly said.     ENDS    For more information:      Andrew Dunne | andrew.dunne@finnpartners.com | 089 442 6763   Amy Couch | amy.couch@finnpartners.com | 085 816 6122  

“Consultants have no issue working at weekends — in fact, they have done so for decades as part of their commitment to patient care. This is further underscored by the reality that two-thirds of all consultants have voluntarily signed up to a new contract since 2023, which explicitly includes weekend work as a core requirement. The notion that weekend care is something new for consultants is inaccurate. What we do welcome in this agreement is the provision of additional support staffing at weekends to enable our members to continue delivering care safely and effectively.    “However, it must be acknowledged that there is a finite number of consultants in the system. Simply rearranging rosters does not address the underlying and chronic issues facing our health service. The core problem remains a capacity crisis — a shortage of beds, staff, and facilities — and any initiative that suggests otherwise risks creating a misleading sense of reassurance. We will continue to support all measures that genuinely enhance access and outcomes for patients, but real solutions will require long-term investment and structural reform.”    ENDS    Aiden Corkery | aiden.corkery@finnpartners.com | (087) 0505904 

The Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) has raised concerns that the Government’s changes to the rental sector could have a detrimental impact on essential healthcare workers such as Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors (NCHDs), who are required to relocate frequently throughout their training. 

The Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) has welcomed the publication of the new report from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), which highlights the pressing need to expand Ireland’s acute public hospital capacity, and said its findings align with the Association’s long-standing concerns regarding the critical shortage of hospital beds. 

The Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) notes the publication today of the independent audit into paediatric orthopaedic surgeries at Children’s Health Ireland (CHI). 

“The Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) has repeated its calls to protect the safety of civilians and health workers in Gaza, following latest reports of a risk of famine with the deliberate withholding of humanitarian aid, including food, in the ongoing 11-week blockade of the region.