Hospital consultants quit talks on new contracts

TALKS between hospital consultants and employers to agree a new work contract collapsed last night, on the eve of the Government deadline to complete negotiations.

The Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) said it had been left with “no option but to step back from the talks process” due to conclude today.

The decision to withdraw is on foot of Health Minister Mary Harney’s decision to press ahead with the recruitment this week of 50 consultants under the proposed contract terms, which are still being negotiated.