General Motions 2015
General Motions Session 1
Friday 10th April
10:30am
Friday 10th April
10:30am
|
General Motions Session 1 Friday April 10th 10:30 AM
|
|
Hospital Services and Hospital Groups
|
|
1. This meeting calls on the Government and HSE to cease the practice of a two tier system in public hospitals. Proposer: Mayo GP Branch
Status: Withdrawn
|
|
2. This meeting calls on the Department of Health and the HSE to establish, in each hospital, surgical assessment units staffed by frontline surgical consultants to complement existing medical assessment units and that the hours of access should be from 8am to 8pm. Proposer: Mayo GP Branch
Status: Carried
|
|
3. The IMO calls on the HSE and HSE-funded hospitals to end the practice of rolling theatre closures which has become embedded in the functioning of Irish hospitals during the recession and is detrimental to patient care. Proposer: IMO NCHD Committee Status: Carried
|
|
4. With the development of the Hospital Groups continuing, the IMO calls on the Acute Services Directorate of the HSE to ensure that the terms and conditions of employment are not in any way diluted by the transition to the new structures, and that national terms and conditions are maintained by the Hospital Groups. Proposer: IMO Consultant Committee Status: Carried as amended
Amendment: With the development of the Hospital Groups continuing, the IMO calls on the Acute Services Directorate of the HSE to ensure that the terms and conditions of employment are not in any way diluted by the transition to the new structures, and that national terms and conditions are honoured by the Hospital Groups.
|
|
Prescription Charges
|
|
5. The IMO calls on the Minister for Health in the next Budget to reverse the policy of Prescription Charges as this policy undermines patient treatment plans by acting as an economic disincentive for patients to continue with prescribed medications. Proposer: Dr Ray Walley
Seconder: Prof Trevor Duffy Status: Carried
|
|
Telemedicine
|
|
6. The IMO calls on the Government to immediately regulate the practice of insurance companies offering a telemedicine service to patients. Such a service offers no continuity of care, is not personalised, is open to abuse and is potentially damaging to long term health outcomes. Proposer: Dr Ray Walley
Seconder: Prof Trevor Duffy Status: Carried
|
|
Online Purchase of Medicines
|
|
7. This meeting calls on Government to immediately regulate the practice of the purchase of medication through online services in Ireland. Such services have inadequate controls and allow patients to purchase medication which may be highly inappropriate given their general physical and mental health needs; they are open to abuse by the most vulnerable of patients and undermine the importance of doctor/patient consultations in assessing the health needs of the patient. Proposer: Dr Ray Walley
Seconder: Dr John Duddy
Status: Carried as amended
Amendment: This meeting calls on Government to immediately regulate the practice of the purchase of medication through online services in Ireland. Such services have inadequate controls and allow patients to purchase medication which may be highly inappropriate given their general physical and mental health needs; they are open to the abuse of the most vulnerable of patients and undermine the importance of doctor/patient consultations in assessing the health needs of the patient.
|
|
Universal Healthcare
|
|
8. Universal Healthcare is not Universal Insurance and the IMO calls on Government to immediately engage with stakeholders to examine funding models for the introduction of Universal Healthcare that will protect patients and provide an equitable service not driven by private insurance companies. Proposer: Prof Trevor Duffy Seconder: Dr John Duddy
Status: Carried
|
|
Health Information Bill
|
|
9. The IMO calls on the Government to immediately publish the Health Information Bill which was intended to provide protection to a health professional from admitting liability if they were to apologise to patients in the case of an adverse event. Open disclosure polices should support patients and doctors and focus on learning from adverse events to reduce harm and improve patient safety. Proposer: Prof Trevor Duffy Seconder: Dr John Duddy
Status: Carried
|
|
Tort reform
|
|
10. The IMO calls on the Bar Council of Ireland and the Law Society of Ireland to engage with the IMO on developing proposals for Tort Reform. Proposer: Prof Trevor Duffy Seconder: Dr John Duddy
Status: Carried
|
|
National Suite of Clinical Guidelines
|
|
11. The IMO calls on the Minister for Health to ensure that the guidelines contained in the National Suite of Clinical Guidelines should be accompanied by the appropriate allocation of resources and that no doctor should be required to implement a guideline that is inadequately funded or that may impact negatively on other areas of patient care. Proposer: Dr Ray Walley
Seconder: Prof Trevor Duffy Status: Carried
|
|
Medical Council
|
|
12. This meeting calls on the Medical Council to engage with all stakeholders and review the complaints system and processes to ensure that they are fit for purpose. An equitable system should encourage legitimate complaints and discourages frivolous matters which are costly and time wasting for both the medical council and the medical professional against whom the complaint is made. Proposer: Mayo GP Branch
Status: Carried
|
|
13. The IMO calls on the Medical Council to change its rules (or recommend a change in legislation if necessary) to allow Non-EU NCHDs access to the Training Division of the Medical Register. Proposer: IMO NCHD Committee Status: Carried
|
|
14. The IMO calls on the Irish Medical Council to dramatically reduce its registration costs and to provide the facility for monthly payments by Direct Debit.
Proposer: IMO NCHD Committee Status: Carried
|
|
15. The IMO calls on the Irish Medical Council to impose limits on legal expenses as such expenses are resulting in increased registration fees for all medical professionals Proposer: IMO NCHD Committee Status: Carried
|
|
MSM Blood Donation
|
|
16. The IMO calls on the Irish Blood Transfusion Service to remove the lifetime ban on MSM blood donation and adopt similar limits with regards blood transfusions as those in place in the UK. Proposer: IMO NCHD Committee Status: Carried
|
|
Services for Drug Users
|
|
17. The IMO urges the HSE to provide resources for adequate referral facilities for drug users throughout Ireland so as to provide better services for drug users. The current situation places intolerable pressures on GPs and medical professionals in their efforts to deliver treatment pathways for these patients. Proposer: Dr Garrett McGovern Seconder: Dr Cathal Ó’Súilliobháin Status: Carried
|
|
18. The IMO support the recommendations of the Farrell Report (2010) and calls on the HSE to allow for the expansion of numbers of patients on the Opioid Treatment Protocol and this increase the access to treatment for heroin dependence throughout the country. Proposer: Dr Garrett McGovern Seconder: Dr Cathal Ó’Súilliobháin Status: Carried |
|
19. The IMO call on the Minister for Health to establish an acute alcohol and illicit drugs detoxification centres for those who wish to choose detoxification as part of their recovery. Proposer: Dr Matthew Sadlier Seconder: Dr Ray Walley
Status: Amendment carried
Amendment: The IMO call on the Minister for Health to establish an alcohol dependant treatment and addictive drugs detoxification centres for those who wish to choose detoxification as part of their recovery.
|
|
Mental Health
|
|
20. The IMO calls on the Mental Health Directorate of the HSE to cease the unsafe and unwise practice of forcing children under the age of 18 into adult mental health facilities. Proposer: IMO Consultant Committee Status: Carried
|
|
21. The IMO calls on the Minister for Health to appoint a national independent body to determine mental health catchment areas to ensure equality of services in all parts of the country. Proposer: Dr Matthew Sadlier Seconder: Prof Trevor Duffy Status: Carried
|
|
22. The lack of resources has had a detrimental impact on the provision of mental health services both in the secondary care and community setting. The IMO calls on the Minister for Health to fund mental health services appropriately so as to ensure parity of outcomes for both mental and physical health and meet the basic rights of access to care and facilities across all age groups in society. Proposer: Dr Matthew Sadlier Seconder: Prof Trevor Duffy Status: Carried
|
|
23. The IMO calls on the Minister for Health to ensure that all patients in acute and long term mental health facilities have access to full physical health services including radiology, laboratory and allied health professionals. Proposer: Dr Matthew Sadlier Seconder: Prof Trevor Duffy Status: Carried
|
|
24. The IMO calls on the Minister for Health to address the difficulties with housing for those with mental health illness as a priority in any national housing policy. Proposer: Dr Matthew Sadlier Seconder: Prof Trevor Duffy Status: Carried
|
|
Healthy Ireland Strategy
|
|
25. The IMO calls on the Department of Health to make the necessary investment in preventative medicine and primary care in line with proposals in the Healthy Ireland Strategy. Proposer: IMO Public Health and Community Health Doctors Committee Status: Carried
|
|
Vaccinations
|
|
26. The IMO calls on the Minister for Health and the HSE to provide resources for a vaccination programme for teenage boys in respect of Gardasil so as to prevent infection and its consequences. Proposer: Dr David O’Gorman Seconder: Dr Phelim Donnelly Status: Carried
|
|
Perinatal Hospice Care
|
|
27. The IMO supports the provision of Perinatal Hospice Care facilities and calls on the Minister for Health to bring forward proposals and make provision for a dedicated Perinatal Hospice in Ireland. Proposer: Dr John Kehoe
Seconder: Dr Nicola de Faoite Status: Carried as amended
Amendment: The IMO supports the provision of Perinatal Palliative Care and calls on the Minister For Health to bring forward proposals and make provision for access to Perinatal Palliative Care nationally.
|
|
Effective Use of Health Services
|
|
28. Given the wholly inadequate funding in our public health services and the demands faced by medical professionals and allied health professionals, this meeting calls on the Department of Health to engage with all stakeholders to develop measures which are fair and equitable so as to ensure efficient and effective use of services by patients. Proposer: Mayo GP Branch
Status: Carried
|
|
Nuclear Disarmament
|
|
29. The IMO calls on the Government to continue support and encourage the Austrian Government’s efforts to create a new momentum for concrete progress on global nuclear disarmament. Proposer: Dr Philip Michael Seconder: Dr Elizabeth Cullen Status: Carried
|
|
EU Trade Agreements
|
|
30. The IMO calls on the Government to ensure that the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and other trade agreements negotiated at EU level cannot weaken existing or future regulations and policies that protect public health. Proposer: IMO International Affairs Committee. Status: Carried
|
General Motions Session 2
Friday 10th April
5:30pm
Friday 10th April
5:30pm
Amendments proposed by IMO Council to: THE IRISH MEDICAL ORGANISATION CONSTITUTION AND RULES
Subject only to the approval of the Registrar of Friendly Societies and in accordance with Rule 13.1 the IMO Council proposes the following rule changes to the AGM: The deletion of the current Rule 7.7 and its replacement with the proposed Amended Rule 7.7 set out below, together with the insertion of a new rule 7.9 set out below
7 MEMBERSHIP ELIGIBILITY SUBSCRIPTION Amendment to Rule 7.7
7.7 There shall be a category of retired member such persons in addition to the membership referred to in Rules 7.1 to 7.4 inclusive shall have retired from all medical practice in the State. The voting rights that will attach to such members will be in respect of contractual issues directly affecting such members as determined by Council.
Proposed Amendment:
7.7 There shall be a category of Retired member in addition to the membership referred to in Rules 7.1 to 7.4 inclusive. Such persons shall have retired from all medical practice in the State and no voting rights shall attach to such membership under this clause 7.7.
Status: Proposed Amendment Carried
Subject only to the approval of the Registrar of Friendly Societies and in accordance with Rule 13.1 the IMO Council proposes the following rule changes to the AGM:
The deletion of the current Appendix 9 and its replacement with the proposed Amended Appendix 9 set out below.
APPENDIX - Electoral System to the National Specialty Committees Amendment to NCHDs Electoral System SUBSCRIPTION Amendment to Rule 7.7
9 Where there are remaining vacancies following the ballot process and AGM Elections, the National NCHD Committee may co-opt members to the committee within one month of the AGM. Such co-optees requiring at least two thirds majority of the members present at the National Committee Meeting at which cooptees are being proposed.
9 Where there are remaining vacancies following the ballot process and the AGM Elections, the National NCHD Committee may co-opt members to the committee. Such co-optees requiring at least two thirds majority of the members present at the National Committee Meeting at which co-optees are proposed.
Status: Proposed Amendment Carried
General Motions Session 3
Saturday 11th April
2:15pm
Saturday 11th April
2:15pm
|
Haddington Road Agreement
|
|
31. This meeting commits the IMO to engaging in the review of the Haddington Road Agreement with a view to addressing the damage caused to our health services by cuts in pay, allowances, terms and conditions which have had a direct impact on Ireland’s ability to retain and recruit doctors to work in the Irish health services. The meeting calls on the IMO to immediately establish a HRA Review Committee to determine negotiating priorities. Proposer: Dr John Duddy
Seconder: Prof Trevor Duffy Status: Carried
|
|
Pay Parity for Consultants |
|
32. Following the agreement achieved by the IMO on the pay structure for new entrant Consultants the IMO calls on the HSE to ensure that full pay parity for all Consultants, as provided for under the LRC Agreement of January 2015, is concluded in the forthcoming pay negotiations as part of the review of the Haddington Road Agreement. Proposers: IMO NCHD Committee and IMO Consultant Committee Status: Carried
|
|
Hospital Overcrowding |
|
33. In recognition of the annual overcrowding difficulties that afflict public hospitals, the IMO calls on the HSE to provide immediate funding to fully resource adequate rehabilitation facilities and nursing home beds to ensure that patient pathways between the acute hospital setting and tertiary settings are clear to both patients and doctors. Proposer: IMO Consultant Committee
Status: Carried
|
|
34. The IMO calls on the HSE to cease the practice of cancelling elective procedures in response to hospital overcrowding as it is self-defeating, creating longer term problems and adding to the burden of patients who have already endured long waiting lists. Proposer: IMO NCHD Committee and IMO Consultants Committee Status: Carried
|
|
Emergency Departments
|
|
35. The IMO calls on the Government to provide funding to resolve the ongoing difficulties in our Emergency Departments. Such difficulties will continue to be a feature until the core issues are addressed: - Increase capacity in the Acute Hospital System
- Increase capacity in long term and rehabilitative care
- Adequately resource Acute Medicine Programme
- Invest in Chronic Disease Management in General Practice
Proposer: Prof Trevor Duffy Seconder: Dr Ray Walley
Status: Carried as amended
Amendment: 35. The IMO calls on the Government to provide funding to resolve the ongoing difficulties in our Emergency Departments. Such difficulties will continue to be a feature until the core issues are addressed:
- Increase capacity in the Acute Hospital System
- Increase capacity in long term and rehabilitative care
- Adequtely resource Emergency Medicine Programme
- Adequately resource Acute Medicine Programme
- Invest in Chronic Disease Management in General Practice
|
|
IMO 2020 Vision for Health |
|
36. The IMO calls on all political parties to support the IMO 2020 Vision for Health objectives. Proposer: Prof Trevor Duffy Seconder: Dr Ray Walley
Status: Carried
|
|
37. The IMO urges all political parties, during the lead up to a general election, to be clear and honest with the electorate about the challenges facing our health services and not to allow these critical services to be used as a vote getting exercise. The IMO urges all parties to develop policies based on medical evidence, medical need and adequate resources. Proposer: Dr Ray Walley
Seconder: Prof Trevor Duffy Status: Carried as amended
Amendment: The IMO urges all political parties and canditates, during the lead up to a general election, to be clear and honest with the electorate about the challenges facing our health services and not to allow these critical services to be used as a vote getting exercise. The IMO urges all parties to develop policies based on medical evidence, medical need and adequate resources.
|