Consultants tell Harney to end war of words

HOSPITAL consultants have called on Health Minister Mary Harney to quit what they termed the phoney war of words over health service reforms.

Ms Harney has given a two-month ultimatum to the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) to sort out a long-running dispute over proposed new contracts to employ public service-only consultants. She said she wanted to end the deadlock and issue employment contracts in early spring.

But the IMO, which represents 725 consultants and 3,000 hospital doctors, has called for extra consultants and additional acute medical beds before it signs up to any deal.