Private hospitals have warned that skyrocketing medical negligence insurance rates for consultants poses a major threat to both private and public healthcare.

Consultants working in private hospitals face hikes in their negligence indemnity rates of around 50% to 60% from next month, bringing their annual subscriptions to well over €100,000 in some cases.

The Independent Hospitals Association of Ireland, which represents 20 private hospitals, says it is very concerned about the impact of the substantial increase in the cost of clinical indemnity cover for consultants in private practice.

Catherine Whelan, Chief Executive of the IHAI, told irishhealth.com that the indemnity increases may threaten the viability of private practice for some consultants.

"This would have a subsequent serious impact not only for the independent (private) healthcare sector but also for the public hospital system."

She pointed out that over 50% of spinal and heart surgery currently talkes place in private hospitals.

Ms Whelan indicated that if consultants in specialties such as these were to curtail their private practice, this would lead to the transfer of demand to the public hospital system 'with inevitable financial and resource consequences for the State'.

She said the IHAI would support any measures that would reduce this risk to the provision of healthcare services nationally.

The negligence insurance increases affect consultants who work completely private hospitals, or who have private hospital commitments in addition to their public hospital work.

Orthopaedic consultants working totally in the privare sector are facing annual negligence indemnity bills of over €130,000 from next month.

The Department of Health says it is currently assessing the indemnity subscription rises issue.

Indemnity hike threat to private care

The high price of medical negligence