News
20th January 2004
Maternity Hospital Masters Warn Re Obstetric Crisis
The Masters of the three Dublin Maternity Hospitals have written to the Minister for Health & Children, Mr Micheál Martin T.D., conveying their concern that the present stalemate in negotiations between his Department and the Medical Defence Union on medical indemnity could result in Mount Carmel Hospital, which currently delivers 1,500 babies (approx) annually, quickly scaling down its capacity. The result of that would be that the Dublin Maternity Hospitals, which last year delivered 23,000 babies, could be completely overstretched. Commenting on their concerns, a spokesperson on their behalf, stated: “The Medical Protections Society, which is the only organisation providing indemnity for obstetricians, has stated that the risk related cost of indemnifying consultants in Full Time Private Practice is likely to be set at €300,000 per annum. Even with the intervention of the Department of Health, subscriptions could be as high as €135,000. This is clearly unsustainable. The Dublin Maternity Hospitals are currently overstretched and could not cope in the short-term with the 1,500 deliveries, which now take place in Mount Carmel. The Masters believe that they have a duty to ensure that the Minister and his Department are fully aware of the crisis that could begin to arise in the latter part of this year should indemnity for private obstetrics become unaffordable”. The Minister for Health has stated that Enterprise Liability will come into effect on February 1st next. The IHCA has warned the Minister that it will react if the new scheme is imposed without their agreement. An Extraordinary General Meeting of the IHCA will take place on Sunday February 1st to consider the position should the new scheme be introduced without agreement.
4th November 2003
Consultants slam the latest waiting list figures published today
Consultants slam the latest waiting list figures published today. They mark the fourth successive quarter when the annualised trend is upwards. The figures are an indictment of the Government"s failure to provide sufficient hospital beds. Click here to download file
30th October 2003
Consultants Reject ESRI Report
Hospital consultants have strongly disagreed with the ESRI proposal that the 3,000 extra acute hospital beds promised in the National Health Strategy should not be provided.
15th October 2003
IHCA Welcomes Hanly Report
15th October, 2003Cosultants Welcome Hanly ReportThe Irish Hospital Consultants Association has welcomed the publication of the Hanly Report but has warned that the problem of the bed capacity of our hospitals must be resolved in tandem with the implementation of Hanly. Commenting on the Report, IHCA Secretary General, Finbarr Fitzpatrick stated;"The recommendations regarding the reconfiguration of hospitals is likely to generate considerable debate. It is essential that definitive decisions on this aspect of the Report be taken at an early date. All of the recommendations regarding reduced NCHD hours, revised contracts for consultants and other health workers and the appointment of extra consultants are dependent on the political decisions that must be taken regarding the provision of acute services on a 24 hour 7 day basis in hospitals.The political debate on a similar report on acute hospital services (Fitzgerald Report) published in the late 1960s dragged on for a decade or more. This must not reoccur with the Hanly Report.The greatest single problem in our hospital services is lack of capacity. This must be addressed in tandem with the Hanly Report.
Page 41 of 41