Contract talks stalled as HSE and consultants row continues

HOSPITAL consultants have accused Health Service Executive (HSE) employers of having “no real interest in health reform”.

As a war of words continued over the failed resumption of negotiations on a new contract for consultants, the HSE Employers Agency (HSE-EA) accused the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) and the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) of adopting an “absolutist position” by refusing to rejoin the talks.

The talks broke down in early February after the IHCA learned that the HSE had made a decision in January to stop offering category two contracts, which allow public hospital consultants to practice in off-site private hospitals.