IMO to meet hospitals 'head on' in jnr doctors' row

The Irish Medical Organisation has warned hospitals at its annual conference in Killarney that it will meet them "head on" in a row over junior doctors' pay and conditions.

IMO chief executive George McNeice will tell health boards and the Dept of Health that they will be held responsible for any fall-out from a junior doctors' strike.

The doctors are unhappy over long hours and claim that a deal on better overtime and other issues agreed last summer has still not been implemented.

The Health Service Employers Agency has appealed to the IMO to take its grievances to the Labour Relations Commission.