Strike looms as hospital row talks collapse

UP TO 40,000 outpatients face cancelled appointments following the apparent collapse yesterday of talks aimed at resolving an insurance row between the State and hospital consultants.

Last night, the Irish Hospital Consultant’s Association (IHCA) warned of the weekly cancellation of up to 3,500 scheduled operations. Day cases - approximately 7,000 a week - will also be hit if industrial action threatened by the consultants goes ahead.

IHCA secretary general Finbarr Fitzpatrick said the lack of progress at yesterday’s meeting between the Attorney General, the Chief State Solicitor’s Office, Department of Health officials and the IHCA’s legal representatives meant it was “becoming harder to pull back” from strike action.