Consultants outline their Hanly demands

Following a day-long strategy meeting, the Irish Medical Organisation's consultant committee has identified 10 "critical conditions…

Following a day-long strategy meeting, the Irish Medical Organisation's consultant committee has identified 10 "critical conditions" which it says must be addressed if the objectives of the Hanly report are to be achieved.

After last Thursday's meeting a position statement was circulated to consultants by Mr Fintan Hourihan, director of Industrial Relations at the IMO. It said extra beds and staffing for the pilot sites in the Mid Western Health Board and the East Coast Area Health Board must be put in place.

In a further reference to these boards, it states: "A national common contract must be negotiated and agreed for consultants rather than any interim contract which would apply to consultants in pilot sites."

The statement also called for an urgent review of the number of hospital doctors proposed by 2013, "on the basis that the Hanly report projections are not regarded as sufficient or realistic". In a reference to the 3,000 additional hospital beds identified in the health strategy, it says these must be provided in addition to any reconfiguration of beds suggested by Hanly. They also want a patient impact assessment undertaken for the changes outlined in the Hanly report.