Consultants to resist ‘doctor only’ contracts

HOSPITAL consultants have warned that the Tánaiste’s threat to start unilaterally recruiting hospital consultants under ‘public only’ contracts “won’t become a reality.”

Tánaiste Mary Harney has said she will push ahead with the new contract even if hasn't got the backing of other hospital consultants in the spring as she wants to ensure that public hospitals meet the needs of all patients and not just private patients.

But Irish Hospital Consultants' Association (IHCA) secretary general Finbarr Fitzpatrick said consultants would not let her "put a gun to their heads."