Insurance and consultant choice
Senator Craughwell raised his own insurance renewals and then asked whether patients should know a consultant’s stance on the eighth amendment when allocated care. The Chair curbed interruptions as the Senator argued that consultants’ positions might affect a patient’s mindset.
On the issue of insurance, it so happens that yesterday I received my renewal notice for my house and car insurance.
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My car insurance has gone down by €20 to €380 fully comprehensive for a 2 l car-----
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-----and my house insurance has gone down by €200. I do not know if people are going to the right brokers.
There has been much debate in recent weeks with respect to the eighth amendment, and there have been fairly serious debates on both sides. A lady approached me and asked me a question. When a public patient in this country is referred to the care of an obstetrician, she does not get a choice as to who she is allocated. As we have seen, some consultants have entrenched positions on either the "Yes" or the "No" side. Is a potential patient entitled to be told what the position is-----
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-----given that it may have an effect, not necessarily on the treatment because I believe all doctors will act professionally, but on the mindset?
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It is an important issue. Any time I have needed a consultant I have had a choice and I have been able to ask people about different consultants. I once had a consultant allocated to me to whom I would not bring my beagle. Is this something that needs to be considered in the future in the post-referendum days?