Strike by junior doctors escalates

THE strike by junior doctors escalated yesterday after they refused re-enter labour relations talks until their old rostering agreements are put back in place.

Round-table talks between the Irish Medical Organisation, which represents the country’s non-consultant hospital doctors (NCHD’S), hospital managers and the South Eastern Health Board broke down after lunch yesterday without a resolution.

The suspension means that more than 120 junior doctors in Waterford and more than 50 in Tullamore, Co Offaly, will go back on the picket line today. The strike in Offaly will last three days. The stoppage in Waterford is indefinite. A further 160 outpatient clinics are cancelled in Waterford today, on top of the 136 cancelled last week.

A further 21 surgical procedures there are cancelled, on top of 53 last week.

In Tullamore, 400 outpatients clinics and 123 surgical procedures are being cancelled over the next three days. Management in both hospitals want the doctors to work rosters outside of their normal 9am to 5pm training time.

Only emergency cover will be provided by non-consultant hospital doctors at both units from 8am today.

The Irish Medical Organisation said last night it would not be so quick to go back into talks and has set a pre-condition that old rosters have to be back in place first.

Industrial relations executive Paul Connolly said the Irish Medical Organisation was surprised that neither the Midlands Health Board nor the Health Service Employment Agency were present at yesterday’s talks with the Labour Relations Commission. The HSEA insisted last night that neither party was invited to attend.

“Nobody was there representing either group. That took us totally by surprise. It is incredible that with a three-day stoppage looming in Tullamore that nobody thought it fit to be at these talks,” he said.

The HSEA said it was very disappointed the talks were suspended without resolution. “We are utterly disappointed, particularly considering the degree of flexibility management showed.

“Rejection of the management proposals was not justified,” a spokesperson said.

Management at both hospitals remain available and are very willing to sit down with the Irish Medical Organisation, he added.

“But any preconditions are not helpful in efforts to resolve this dispute.

“Unfortunately, it shows a degree of inflexibility on the part of the Irish Medical Organisation,” he commented.

Midlands Health Board chief executive officer John Bulfin said it was difficult to understand the Irish Medical Organisation’s willingness to discuss the rosters in Waterford Regional Hospital whilst refusing to do so in relation to Tullamore. He again called on the Irish Medical Organisation to enter into talks and call off their industrial action in the interests of patients.

The South Eastern Health Board also said it was deeply concerned that the Irish Medical Organisation had scheduled further industrial action.

“Should the industrial action be resolved, all services will resume as normal and the South Eastern Health Board will inform the public through the media.

“If patients have any queries in relation to services available at Waterford

Regional Hospital, they should contact the hospital directly on 051-848000 or consult the South Eastern Health Board’s website on www.sehb.ie,” said a board spokesperson.