IHCA: Patient care in decline

Doctors have warned of a “sharp decline” in the standard of patient care against a backdrop of a growing number of vacant consultant posts.

The Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) said a survey of its members found almost nine in 10 believe patient care is being compromised due to a lack of suitably qualified consultants. Moreover, hospitals will struggle to sustain current clinical service levels if more posts aren’t filled.