IHCA cautiously welcomes hiring of new consultants

The appointment of 60 new hospital consultants is being given a cautious welcome by the Irish Hospital Consultants Association.

The move is part of a scheme introduced last year to reward hospitals for meeting targets in their A&E departments.

Midwest Regional Hospital in Limerick is to get 10 new specialists, Saint Vincent's and Saint James's will get six each and Waterford will get five.

The IHCA says that, while the hiring of new specialists is welcome, some facilities are not in a position to reduce waiting times and they must also be helped by the HSE.

Finbar Fitzpatrick of the Irish Hospital Consultantants Association welcomes the appointments but has reservations as to their complete effectiveness.