BMA Hit Back Over Jab Disagreement

There's a falling out this week over the administration of the swine flu vaccine to NI children under five-years-old.

As an local health chief said that he was "disappointed that negotiations over swine flu vaccinations for the under-fives broke down", local doctors have hit back.

It is believed the Department of Health (DHSSPS) and the British Medical Association (BMA) were unable to agree on how doctors would carry out a mass vaccination during the busy winter months and still meet targets to provide routine appointments for patients within 48 hours.

John Compton, Chief Executive of the Regional Health and Social Care Board, told the Stormont Assembly's Health Committee it "should not have come down to money", even though, under the terms of their contract, doctors are paid bonuses for this service.

"It is always a matter of regret when it presents itself as a rather difficult negotiation over whether it's £5.20, £6.20 or £10.20 - I think that's just the wrong place to be," he said.

However, last night, Dr Brian Dunn, Chairman of the BMA's Northern Ireland General Practitioner Committee (pictured) also responded "with disappointment" to comments about the H1N1 vaccination programme that have been made by Mr Compton.

Dr Brian Dunn, a general practitioner (GP) in Larne said: "GPs are incredibly disappointed at the comments made by Mr Compton, who is Chief Executive of the body that has been asked by the DHSSPS to approach GPs to negotiate a local, Northern Ireland, solution to the under fives swine flu vaccination phase.

"Either Mr Compton does not understand the situation or he is deliberately misleading the public.

"The breakdown in negotiations regarding this phase of the H1N1 vaccination programme was not over money.

"It was about the desire of GPs to be able to continue their normal clinical work to look after all patients, in the midst of delivering swine flu vaccinations.

"Northern Ireland GPs do not want more money than what was offered," he insisted, last night.

"What GP negotiators have consistently asked for is a reduction in the bureaucracy associated with their contract to allow them to cope with this vaccination programme in addition to their ongoing work, without harming patient safety and other aspects of medical care." he said.

"It is interesting that Mr Compton's Board is the body tasked now with the delivery of this phase of the vaccination programme," he said, noting they presumed by these comments that an alternative programme will be delivered by someone other than GPs.

Earlier this week, it emerged as likely that other NI health professionals, such as district nurses and community nursing staff would be asked to administer the jab.

Meanwhile, levels of swine flu infection continue to fall across both NI and the rest of the UK.

See: Drop In Swine Flu Cases

(BMcC/KMcA)