Doctors under pressure as patient queues soar

HOSPITAL consultants are under increasing pressure because they have to treat 5,000 more patients a week this year compared to 2001.

Finbarr Fitzpatrick, secretary general of the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) said irate members will be demanding more staff and funding at their annual conference in Dublin today.

"Consultants are already concerned about the reductions in staff and funding in recent months but their major worry now is the 2003 budget will be much more restrictive," Mr Fitzpatrick said.