The likelihood of industrial action by hospital consultants early next year increased last night after a decision by the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) to ballot its consultant members.
The move by the organisation's consultant committee follows a decision by the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) last weekend to hold an extraordinary general meeting on February 6th next to consider reactivating its campaign of industrial action.
It is presently suspended pending the outcome of negotiations to resolve a long-running row over who will pay for the legal liabilities of doctors prior to the introduction of a State enterprise liability scheme earlier this year.
According to the IMO, the unresolved issue of enterprise liability is the principal reason for balloting its 675 consultant members. However, it is concerned that a number of recent developments signal a decision by the Department of Health "to control consultants".
"There has been an underlying trend over the past 12 months to oppose change and to exert control over hospital consultants" the director of industrial relations at the IMO, Mr Fintan Hourihan, said last night.
"The level of anger among consultants is profound and was illustrated recently by the high turnout of consultants in St James's Hospital to discuss possible industrial action over enterprise liability," he added.
Mr Hourihan said the IMO's consultant committee had expressed specific concerns over parts of the Health Bill which the Minister for Health, Ms Harney, published last month.
It is understood there is considerable anger over Section 26 of the new Bill which appears to prevent consultants making public statements on certain matters. Consultants are also concerned at a recent decision to defer the Buckley pay review until 2007.
Mr Hourihan confirmed the IMO would seek to co-ordinate industrial action with the IHCA.