Consultant contract talks continue despite IMO walkout

A SECOND round of renewed efforts between medics and health bosses to reach an agreement on new consultants’ contracts was under way last night.

Early yesterday morning, a 16-hour session ended without agreement with the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) delegation walking out, claiming little progress had been made.

Yesterday, the larger Irish Hospital Consultants’ Association (IHCA), re-entered negotiations with HSE chief executive Prof Brendan Drumm warning that the talks were the final chance to reach an agreement.