Martin planning more consultants

MORE consultants are to be brought into hospitals shortly on a pilot basis, Health Minister Micheál Martin confirmed yesterday.

There is pressure in the Department of Health to recruit more consultants because the EU has directed junior doctors working in hospitals must have work-time reduced to 48 hours a week.

Mr Martin said a major review of medical manpower is currently being undertaken by leading consultant David Hanly and he expects to publish that report by the end of February.