Consultants dig in

IT may be the case that an imminent election has concentrated Health Minister Mary Harney’s mind and that the impasse in negotiations with the hospital consultants is a distraction from the problems of the health service.

However, neither of these assertions by the consultants can possibly justify their refusal for over three years now to discuss a change in their working arrangements that would facilitate an almost 50% increase in their number. It’s a bit rich for them to be talking about the minister’s self-interest in this matter.

Catherine McNally