Written answers

Tuesday, 31 January 2006

Department of Health and Children

Clinical Indemnity Scheme

8:00 pm

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 231: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her decision not to extend the clinical indemnity scheme to the consultants working in the private hospitals on the grounds of public hospitals will make the possibility of the consultants agreeing with her proposed hospital plan difficult to implement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3058/06]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The clinical indemnity scheme, CIS, has been established on the principle of enterprise liability. As such, the scheme covers institutions such as the Health Service Executive, voluntary hospitals, agencies providing services to persons with disabilities and so forth, rather than individual practitioners. The activities of doctors, nurses and others employed by enterprises included in the CIS are covered by virtue of their employment in the enterprises covered by the scheme. The CIS does not cover private hospitals, whether located on the grounds of public hospitals or elsewhere. These institutions are responsible for arranging their own insurance cover. Consultants in private hospitals benefit from the caps which have been placed on the extent of professional indemnity cover that they are required to purchase. The objective of the caps is to make the cost of this cover affordable for consultants in private practice. I do not believe that the consultants who may wish to work in private hospitals on the grounds of public hospitals will expect to receive more favourable treatment than those who work in other parts of the private hospital sector.

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