Consultants' group may defer strike

There were growing indications last night that at least one of the main bodies representing hospital consultants is likely to defer its nationwide strike planned for next month.

The secretary general of the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) said last night there was "increasing optimism" that recent Government proposals aimed at diffusing the row over medical malpractice insurance for senior doctors "may prove to be acceptable".

The national council of the IHCA is to meet today to consider three letters sent to hospital consultants in recent days by the Secretary General to the Government, Mr Dermot McCarty, and by senior officials of the Department of Health.

However, consultant members of the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) have rejected the settlement proposals and have served strike notice on the Health Service Executive. If the dispute goes ahead as planned on March 14th, consultant members of the IMO will not operate public outpatient clinics, or carry out elective or non-urgent procedures.

Emergency cover would, however, be provided. The dispute stems from a decision by the UK-based medical indemnity organisation, the Medical Defence Union (MDU), to withdraw cover from a number of Irish consultants, mainly obstetricians.

The MDU believes that following the introduction of a State indemnity scheme for senior doctors last year, the Government should meet the cost of historic liabilities arising from malpractice claims that have not yet come to court.

Government advisers say the cost of such claims could be about €400 million.

Both consultants' organisations had sought legal guarantees from the Government that consultants who had cover withdrawn by the MDU would not be left personally liable for claims made by former patients.

Mr McCarthy informed the consultant bodies on Tuesday that the Cabinet had endorsed the position of the Minister for Health, Ms Harney, that "no person who has suffered a medical mishap in Ireland would be left without compensation, and no consultant would be left without cover in all reasonable circumstances and in accordance with law".

The IMO is now seeking a meeting with Ms Harney on the issue.