Hospital consultants have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action in the dispute with the Government over medical insurance.
Some 89 per cent of consultants, who are members of the Irish Medical Organisation, voted for the action because of what they say is the failure of Government to ensure adequate cover is in place.
Consultants are concerned about the cover ended by British insurer, the Medical Defence Union (MDU), last year, which they say leaves them personally liable for compensation claims which may arise. The MDU said such was the scale of claims it could not guarantee cover.
The Government is providing cover for any claim in respect of treatment after February 2004, but the consultants say they are still exposed because liabilities previous to that date are in some cases not covered by either the State or the MDU.
This afternoon, the MDU revealed it had decided to end the talks with Ms Harney following here remarks at an Oireachtas committee hearing yesterday and in The Irish Timesthis morning. The MDU said the comments that it had withdrawn cover from doctors "leave it with little hope that the problem can be resolved by negotiation".
Mr Fintan Hourihan, the IMO's Director of Industrial Relations, said after today's ballot result was revealed: "The current crisis now leaves up to 25 Consultants exposed and liable for potentially crippling court awards which will wipe out their livelihoods and end their medical practice.
"This has arisen from the failure of the Department of Health and Children to conclude agreements with medical defence organisations on so-called historic liabilities prior to the introduction of a new State indemnity scheme in February 2004".
The Tánaiste and Minister for Health, Ms Harney, described the outcome of the consultats' ballot as "a great disappointment which will only cause suffering for patients".
"I re-iterate my committment that no doctor will be left without cover and that no patient will be left without compensation for medical mishaps.
"However, I cannot compromise the legal and negotiating strategy with the MDU at this time. I will continue to work on a solution to this issue," she said in a statement.
Ms Harney this morning warned that industrial action will not help consultants in the dispute. Writing in today's Irish Times, Ms Harney said patients would suffer in a dispute she says pits both consultants and the Government on the same side against the MDU.
The Irish Medical Organisation, which represents 700 consultants, has met with the Irish Hospital Consultants' Association (IHCA) with a view to co-ordinating their efforts. A further meeting between the IMO and the IHCA will take place within the next ten days.
The IMO said it had not yet decided what form any industrial action would take and said no disruption was expected before early March at the earliest.
"The Irish Medical Organisation will be ensuring that full emergency cover will be provided at all times," a statement said. The group has sought an urgent meeting with the Tánaiste.
The Labour party said Ms Harney must act to avert industrial action. The party's spokeswoman on health Liz McManus, said: "The fact that the consultants voted by a margin of eight to one is an indication of the seriousness with which they view this matter, but their decision not to take any action before March provides some space and time to seek a solution."
"The absence of an agreed system of insurance cover for historical liabilities for hospital consultants puts patients at unnecessary risk, but any industrial action by the consultants would create huge problems in the hospital system."
