Consultants to meet on strike action

HOSPITAL consultants are to meet today to consider strike action after talks with the Department of Health on the long-running row over medical insurance cover stalled.

The move could lead to the cancellation of non-emergency surgery and outpatient appointments early in the New Year.

An extraordinary general meeting of the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) would have to be convened to approve the plan first. The IHCA national executive is meeting today to decide whether to call the general membership together for a vote.