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  Fianna Fáil is committed to doubling the number of consultants so that senior doctors are available to see patients on a 24 hour basis, while we reduce the workload on junior doctors.  At the same time we want our hospitals operating throughout the week, especially at the times they are needed most.  To achieve these objectives there is no getting away from the need for a new consultants’ contract.  All the professional bodies have supported reports which have at their core the need for a new contract.We are committed to putting the interests of public patients first.  We are committed to achieving the necessary flexibility in the working hours on consultants so that relevant specialists are available when patients need them most.  We are committed to expanding the range and quality of services available in all regions.  As part of achieving all this, we are committed to implementing a further major increase in consultant numbers.  But we have to be clear about a simple fact.  We cannot be expected to implement this increase in consultant numbers without a new consultants contract.  This is essential for reform.It is now time for the Irish Hospital Consultants Association to return to the table and to engage in these essential contract negotiations.The issues involved with a new contract are tough but the objective is clear.  They have been on the table for a long time.  They have been studied time and again through fully-inclusive and non-political groups.  The time for action has come.  For the sake of patients let us get it done and let us move on. 

9th March 2004 An TaoiseachMr Bertie Ahern T.D.Department of the TaoiseachMerrion StreetDublinA Thaoisigh,I refer to your address to the opening session of the Fianna Fail Ard Fheis on Friday March 5th last, during the concluding stages of which you stated:“It is now time for the Irish Hospital Consultants Association to return to the table and engage in these essential contract negotiations”.I have been requested by the President of the IHCA (Dr. Colm Quigley) to clarify the position which led to the IHCA withdrawal from the contract negotiations.At the inaugural meeting of these negotiations on November 27th last, the Chairman of our Negotiating Group stated, that in the event of the Clinical Indemnity Scheme (Enterprise Liability) being imposed by the Minister for Health & Children, Mr Micheál Martin T.D., in breach of the existing Common Contract and in breach of his written commitment of February 28th, 2003, the IHCA would withdraw from the negotiations.Regrettably, Minister Martin imposed the new insurance scheme with effect from February 1st last.  The result of this imposition, which as I have stated was in breach of the current contract, was that the IHCA following an Extraordinary General Meeting attended by 500 members and a secret ballot, decided to embark on a 4-Stage Campaign of Action, the latter stages of which were deferred until March 15th next at the request of Minister Martin.Negotiations are currently taking place between the Department of Health & Children and Medical Defence Union regarding historic liabilities and when these negotiations have been concluded, further discussions will need to take place between the IHCA and DOH&C to resolve other issues arising from the imposition of the Clinical Indemnity Scheme.We have had a review meeting with the Secretary General and his colleagues in the Department of Health on Tuesday March 2nd last.  A further review is scheduled to take place with Minister Martin on Thursday March 11th.  We have advised the Secretary General that we need to have evidence of real and substantial progress in the negotiations with the MDU for our next National Council meeting which is scheduled to take place on Saturday March 20th.The IHCA will not resume contract negotiations until the difficulties which have arisen as a result of the clear breach of the current contract by the Minister for Health & Children have been resolved to our reasonable satisfaction.  Following resolution of these difficulties, the IHCA will resume the contract negotiations and will participate constructively in the general reform of the health services.Yours sincerely  _________________Finbarr FitzpatrickSecretary General 

Responding to the Taoiseach"s call today for Hospital Consultants to work with him in tackling the problems of the Irish health services, Secretary General of the IHCA, Finbarr Fitzpatrick, said that they were more than willing to co-operate with the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health & Children in shaping the future of the health services in Ireland. But a number of issues must first be resolved in the immediate future, he added.  He said that these included protecting consultants in respect of historic insurance claims and concluding negotiations on the package involving the state scheme to insure consultants. " Once that"s out of the way we are happy to deal with the institutional issues ", he added. However, Mr. Fitzpatrick concluded, the core problems in the Irish Health Services were issues of capacity and resources, especially delivering on the commitments in the National Health Strategy including the provision of 3000 extra hospital beds.  Further Information: Finbarr Fitzpatrick Secretary General  

IHCA met with MPS on 19th FebruaryMPS met with Minister on 19th February MPS anxious that its members are not disadvantaged in historic liabilities resolution IHCA met MDU on 23rd FebruaryMDU met with Secretary General of the Department on 23rd February Confidentiality agreement in place with DoHC Actuarial and due diligence not a problem for MDU Formula agreed regarding use of discretion into the future

  The National Council of the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) decided at an emergency meeting this evening, to accede to the request of the Minister for Health & Children and defer the curtailment of services scheduled to commence next Monday. It was also agreed to defer stages two and three of the campaign*.The deferral is for a period of four weeks. Representatives of the Association were invited to meet Minister Martin earlier this afternoon to receive an update on the Departments negotiations with the Medical Defence Union (MDU). Dr Colm Quigley, President of the IHCA said:" In recognition of the real and substantial progress made during the past two weeks and in view of the Ministers assurances, the National Council has decided, following a 90 minute meeting, to defer action for four weeks". The Department of Health proposed a progress review should take place in two weeks time. It is predicted that the process as a whole should be completed in four weeks.

Click here to download file

Click here to download file

12th February National Circular available for members in Newsletter section

      85% of Hospital Consultants Support Industrial Action in Historic Vote  Wednesday, 11th of February: Members of the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) have voted by an overwhelming majority in favour of industrial action. The 85% vote in support will see a curtailment of consultant work schedules in hospitals from Monday next. This is the first time the organisation, which represents 1450 consultants, has ever voted for industrial action. Under the plan of action, from Monday next ( Feb.16th ), work for the National Treatment Purchase Fund will be suspended in hospitals. The final phase of action will begin on Monday the 23rd of February, when emergency services only will be undertaken by consultants in Hospitals. Over 70% of admission cases are emergencies; in this context, continuing care and care of urgent patients will be provided as normal.  The dispute centres on the Department of Health & Children’s failure to reach agreement to safeguard insurance cover for both patients and obstetricians. The failure to resolve this issue means that patients seeking to take a case against consultants for procedures undertaken in the past are unlikely to receive  full financial settlement and consultants involved in such claims could face financial ruin.   Dr Colm Quigley, President of the IHCA, commenting on the results of the ballot said: “ The 85% support for the vote and the exceptionally high response rate, indicate how concerned consultants are.

Consultants in General Hospitals not being Consultant Psychiatrists - 2 VacanciesCandidates:Blunnie, William (Mater Hospital)Cunningham, Anthony (Beaumont Hospital)Egan, Jim (Mater Hospital)Healy, Brendan (Sligo General Hospital)Lennon, Finbarr (Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital ,Drogheda)Maha Lingam, K (Cork University Hospital)Manning, Patrick (Bon Secours Hospital, Glasnevin)McGuinness, Eamonn (St James"s & Coombe Hospitals)McMurray, Noel (Cavan General Hospital)Pidgeon, Christopher (Beaumont Hospital)Quigley, Colm (Wexford General Hospital)Sugrue, Declan (Mater Hospital)Warde, Barry (Portlaoise General Hospital)Consultant Psychiatrist - 1 VacancyCandidate:Corrigan, Geraldine ( Letterkenny General Hospital) Please consider these candidates when exercising your ballot