Consultants claim budget cuts are leading to patient deaths

The President of the Irish Hospital Consultants Association says crude frontline budget cuts are having disastrous effects on patients.

Doctor Gerard Crotty says that patients are dying unnecessarily because of having to wait on a trolley in emergency departments

He told delegates at the group's annual conference in Cork today that waiting on a trolley is linked to a 30 per cent increase in mortality.

However, he welcomed the appointment of the new Health Minister and says he is hopeful for Budget 2015.