Harney faces big battles in health

THE dispute over the opening of Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH) is just one of a number of headaches facing the Government in the run up to the General Election.

The Health Service Executive is threatened with industrial action on a number of fronts, with consultants, nurses, pharmacists and dentists on a collision course with health officials.

Health Minister Mary Harney yesterday withdrew a request she had made earlier in the day for talks with the Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) on improved pay and a shorter working week, to be halted until the CUMH issue was resolved.