News
5th March 2004
Hospital Consultants willing to work with Government in tackling health problems
Responding to the Taoiseach"s call today for Hospital Consultants to work with him in tackling the problems of the Irish health services, Secretary General of the IHCA, Finbarr Fitzpatrick, said that they were more than willing to co-operate with the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health & Children in shaping the future of the health services in Ireland. But a number of issues must first be resolved in the immediate future, he added. He said that these included protecting consultants in respect of historic insurance claims and concluding negotiations on the package involving the state scheme to insure consultants. " Once that"s out of the way we are happy to deal with the institutional issues ", he added. However, Mr. Fitzpatrick concluded, the core problems in the Irish Health Services were issues of capacity and resources, especially delivering on the commitments in the National Health Strategy including the provision of 3000 extra hospital beds. Further Information: Finbarr Fitzpatrick Secretary General
12th February 2004
IHCA Rejects Minister"s Claim - MDU Cannot "Walk off the pitch"
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3rd February 2004
STATEMENT ON CAVAN HOSPITAL INQUIRY
STATEMENT ON CAVAN HOSPITAL INQUIRYThe IHCA categorically rejects the suggestion by the Minister for Health & Children, Micheal Martin, that the Association was unwilling to submit a list of names of nominees to act on his committee.The failure of the Minister to satisfactorily establish his committee can be found in the hamfisted way in which the Department set about the task. It failed to· make appropriate arrangements for locum cover so that patients would not be disadvantaged· ensure that everybody sitting on the Committee would be indemnified against any possible legal action· provide detailed terms of reference and rules under which the committee would operate.The IHCA submitted two lists of nominees which enabled the Minister make two furtive attempts to commence the process.The Department was advised last Friday that the Association, notwithstanding the many difficulties posed by the Department"s handling of the matter, would be in a position to submit four further names on last Monday, 2nd inst. Clarification on the Minister"s intentions was sought in light of High Court proceedings which were taken this week by one of the surgeons under investigation. No response has been received.It ill behoves this Minister to seek to distract attention from his own failings by blaming others.
1st February 2004
Hospital Consultants Act To Protect Patients
02 February 2004Hospital Consultants Act to Ensure Patients Are ProtectedThe Minister for Health should meet the Medical Defence Union to ensure that no public or private patient is left uncovered for past medical negligence claims. The Minister’s very drastic decision to leave public and private patients uncovered has forced hospital consultants to take action to protect them.Until the Department of Health and The Medical Defence Union have an agreement to cover patients, hospital consultants will implement a phased campaign from Monday 2 February to withdraw from administrative services. If there is still no resolution by 23 February, Consultants will move to provide emergency services only from that date.See detailed plan of action below. Further InformationFinbarr Fitzpatrick086 246 9817 Stage 1 - Monday February 21. The IHCA will not participate in contract negotiations arising from the recently published reports on the health service.2. Members will not participate in the (Hanly Report) Implementation Groups in the Mid West and East Coast Area Health Boards.3.
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