IMO: Plan for ‘public-only’ consultants could mean free-for-all

THE Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) yesterday warned that any Government plan to allow individual hospitals to hire “public-only” consultants could lead to a free-for-all and chaos.

The IMO said it was surprised at the suggestion made by Tánaiste Mary Harney in an interview yesterday, as the organisation had never been given any indication it was something that was being considered.

Ms Harney told The Sunday Business Post the Government was considering jettisoning plans to put in place a new common contract for hospital consultants, following a lack of progress in protracted negotiations with the IMO and the Irish Hospital Consultants’ Association (IHCA).