The Irish Hospital Consultants Association says it’s willing to go to the Labour Relations Commission for talks with the HSE.

It’s after consultants failed to reach agreement with health service management last month, on work practice changes, as an alternative to further pay cuts.

The IHCA says the HSE has already acknowledged that consultants work well beyond their contracted hours, and that they also treat patients in an on-call capacity.

They’re warning the HSE that extending hospital services must be done safely, and through observing recommended consultant to patient ratios – something consultants say we’re currently only achieving about two thirds of.