Prison doctors’ pay doubles as deal struck

John Breslin

Salaries for 25 doctors, most of them part time, have been nearly doubled under the terms of agreement.

But the issue of support services for medical staff, a central argument made for strike action, has been placed on the back burner.

Prison medical facilities were placed under huge pressure after 23 doctors - there are two vacant positions - walked out in early May.

It led to long queues for medical check ups, the placing of two army doctors in facilities in Dublin and a large increase in inmates having to be ferried to hospitals for what were relatively minor complaints.

The prison doctors, members of the Irish Medical Organisation, voted earlier this week on the settlement, which followed months of Labour Relations Commission brokered talks.

In a statement, the IMO admitted the agreement provides for significant improvements in the pay and terms and conditions of employment for the 25 prison doctors.

The payment for those on a 39-hour full-time week will be €117,300, nearly double the previous salary of €64,000.

Part-time doctors will be paid on a pro-rata basis but crucially all will receive an annual on-call allowance of €5,100.

The agreement also deals, to a point, with complaints that the Prison Service has failed to respond to independent recommendations over support services for medical staff, particularly in relation to the psychiatric needs of inmates.

It was agreed that another independent review of services be carried out, with a time cap of between six and eight months on the delivery of the report. The recommendations must be implemented within two years, it was agreed.

In addition, a drugs expert is to carry out a separate review of the organisation and delivery of drug treatment services in Irish prisons and report within eight months. The expert’s recommendations will be discussed by both parties at the LRC.

Dr Hugh Gallagher, chairman of the prison doctors’ committee, said: “The focus now must be on ensuring that real improvements in the medical care of prisoners follow the extensive discussions that have taken place with the prison authorities.

“Our ultimate objective is to ensure that the medical care of prisoners is on a par with that available to the wider community.”

The Irish Prison Service said it was pleased doctors accepted the offer.

A spokesperson added: “The strike which lasted over three months had put the prison system under considerable strain. However, the professionalism shown by our nurses and medical orderlies supported by the headquarters healthcare directorate and the army corps had kept the system ticking over during the strike.

“We would be glad to see a positive outcome to the ballot signalling a return to normal.”