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“COVID-19 reveals co-dependency that exists between a sustainable economy and properly resourced health system”

Commenting on the fact that 843,363 people are now waiting for care, Prof Alan Irvine, President, Irish Hospital Consultants Association, said: 

Commenting on the two measures signalled by government today—the decision to hire additional public health staff and Cabinet approval to draft new legislation which will impact on the delivery of healthcare—Professor Alan Irvine, President of the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) said: 

“A promise to invest in services but not in the professionals required to deliver them” 

Professor Alan Irvine, Consultant Dermatologist at Children’s Health Ireland elected new President to represent over 90% of Irish hospital consultants; National Officers include Dr. Gabrielle Colleran (Vice President), Prof. Clare Fallon (Treasurer) and Dr. Conor O’Riordan (Membership Secretary); IHCA sets out key objectives of ending the consultant recruitment and retention crisis, advocating for patients, and reducing ‘still growing’ hospital waiting lists.  The Irish Hospital Consultant Association (IHCA) announced today, Friday, 11 September 2020, the election of its National Officers for the period 2020/2021. 

Latest rise in patient waiting times comes the same day NPHET warns of the high likelihood of insufficient staffing levels to respond to service demands. 9,634 added to public outpatient waiting list in August, as 841,459 now on various NTPF waiting lists; 9.5% increase in the number of those waiting for care since the beginning of 2020;  Consultants warn that promise of ‘winter plan’ is an inadequate response and that immediate funded plan to tackle capacity deficits is needed;  New IHCA President elected at critical time for hospital consultants as health system braces for ‘winter like no other’.  IHCA President Professor Alan Irvine: “We still do not have a winter plan and it remains unclear what increased public hospital capacity will be provided…If significantly increased capacity is not urgently provided to prepare for the extraordinary winter surge due to COVID-19 and other demand increases, then it will simply be too late.”

 

“We welcome and commend this plan. It contains measures which are critical if we are to be ready for what the HSE has predicted will be a winter like no other.   “The specific commitment to resolve the two-tier consultant pay issue in order to retain and attract consultants has never been more timely. One in five permanent consultant posts are unfilled in our public hospitals. The HSE itself has confirmed Ireland has the lowest number of consultants in a range of specialties. Before the pandemic hit, over 800,000 people were waiting to see a consultant or receive treatment. What was bad is now worse.    “Minister Donnelly, his Fine Gael predecessor and now Sinn Féin are all in favour of restoring consultant pay parity. Each knows that to fix the problems requires more consultants, beds and capacity. There is no time to lose and the promised winter plan will only work if it contains funded measures on all three of these specifics.”    ENDS