The number of hospital consultants who have been refused insurance cover by the Medical Defence Union (MDU) for negligence cases taken against them continues to grow, with latest figures showing 11 consultants have now been refused indemnity.
Yesterday a surgeon in public practice became the latest consultant to receive notice from the British-based MDU, which is in dispute with the Department of Health over who should cover historic claims, that he was being refused cover, despite having paid the MDU insurance premiums over the years.
To date, eight obstetricians have been refused cover in certain cases. They include three each in public and private practice and two who are no longer practising.
One of these is the former Drogheda obstetrician Dr Michael Neary, who was struck off the medical register last year for unnecessarily removing the wombs of 10 patients.
The other three consultants refused cover are surgeons.
The Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) is meeting the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, this evening. It will demand Mr Martin agrees to State indemnity for the 11 consultants who have been refused cover by the MDU.
Mr Finbarr Fitzpatrick, secretary general of the IHCA, said if the Minister refused to indemnify the consultants turned down by the MDU, there was "a distinct likelihood" that a decision on further industrial action by consultants would be taken.
The Irish Medical Times reported yesterday that the MDU, in a letter to the State Claims Agency, had refused to indemnify Dr Neary in two cases taken by patients against him.