Mitchell calls on doctors to suspend strike due to SARS
Fine Gael health spokesperson Olivia Mitchell TD has called on public health doctors to suspend their strike action because of their critical role in fighting the disease.
"I do not dispute that the public health doctors have legitimate issues which must be addressed, but this is not the time for them to be on the streets," Ms Mitchell said.
"Micheál Martin and the health system are floundering in the absence of the unique expertise provided by the doctors in the area of infectious disease control, and the public is losing confidence in the system."
"Ireland is the weakest link in the European defence system and this increases everyone's exposure. The Minister, for his part, must change his tune, admit there are issues to be addressed and commit to meaningful talks," she added.
Meanwhile, the Chinese woman suspected of contracting the SARS virus is back in hospital in Dublin after temporarily disappearing from the hostel where she was being monitored overnight.
Gardaí would only confirm that a missing persons case was dealt with, but they apparently circulated a description of the woman after she went missing from the hostel for around four hours.
She was located early this morning and admitted to hospital for quarantine reasons while doctors await test results to determine if she has severe acute respiratory syndrome.
The woman had recently arrived in Ireland from the southern Chinese province of Guangdong, where SARS is believed to have originated.
