Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 May 2004
324 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Health and Children the caps his Department has agreed on consultants’ liabilities for the private sector going forward; if a cap will apply for just one speciality; if there is a cap which applied to all specialities; the nature of the arrangements made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14396/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government engaged in discussions with organisations representing hospital consultants in February of this year about having personal injury claims against them covered by the clinical indemnity scheme. As a result of the discussions, the Government agreed that caps should be placed on the maximum value of professional indemnity cover required by consultants to cover private practice. The decision was taken to allay concerns that the cover would become unaffordable, thereby threatening the viability of the independent health care sector. For all specialties, with the exception of obstetrics, consultants will be required to purchase cover to a limit of €1 million in respect of all cases arising in a single calendar year, inclusive of costs. Obstetricians will be required to purchase cover to a limit of €500,000 in respect of all cases arising in a single calendar year, also inclusive of costs. Insurers or indemnifiers covering consultant obstetricians will not be liable for the cost of more than three claims against any individual consultant, each of which exceed €500,000 in a single calendar year.
325 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Health and Children the arrangements which have been in place to provide insurance cover in respect of obstetric claims arising from private maternity hospitals in the State since 2001; if these arrangements have been changed, altered or continued since the introduction of enterprise liability in February 2004; the nature of changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14397/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2001, the two remaining private hospitals which provide maternity services, Bon Secours Hospital in Cork and Mount Carmel Hospital in Dublin, informed the Department of Health and Children that they would be unable to secure public liability insurance cover at affordable premiums for 2002 if they were to continue to deliver babies. The closure of maternity units at the hospitals would have led to major difficulties for the public maternity services in Dublin and Cork which were, and still are, operating at full capacity. The Department put in place a scheme whereby the two hospitals contribute to a fund that should be sufficient to finance the expected level of claims arising from their obstetric units. As the fund might be exhausted by the cost of meeting claims, the State through the State Claims Agency will be liable for the balance of any claims which cannot be met from the fund. The arrangements have not been altered since their introduction and remain in place.
