Harney and hospital consultants set to clash

NEW Health Minister Mary Harney and hospital consultants seem set on a collision course following the Tánaiste’s insistence yesterday that their insurance problems will not be sorted out before a new contract is negotiated.

The hospital consultants want the State to step in and provide insurance cover for those consultants whose insurance was withdrawn by the Medical Defence Union (MDU) before they finalise a new contract on work practices.

The Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) said yesterday that they had agreement in principle from former Health Minister Micheál Martin that he would bring such a proposal to Cabinet before the reshuffle.