We have a right to our training

DOCTOR John Kelleher and his 129 junior doctor colleagues at Waterford Regional Hospital are losing a minimum 100 in pay for every day they are on the picket line.

But they are prepared to stay there indefinitely as the stand-off with hospital management continues.

The only roster operating at the busy 500-bed hospital yesterday was the picket roster.

Non consultant hospital doctors (NCHDs) took it in turns to picket in groups of up to 30 dashing in and out of the rain.

"We have a right to our training from 9am to 5pm on Monday to Thursday and 9am to 4pm on Fridays.

"These are the key training hours and they can not be altered," said the young Co Waterford man.

"As soon as this hospital recognises that, we are flexible and we are willing to go back to work. We will talk, we've no problem with that.

"The rosters the hospital are trying to implement are unfair. This is not a question of compromise. It is a matter of giving us what we deserve and the training we need.

"The reputation of the hospital will suffer as a result of trying to implement these rosters. The hospital is trying to blame us for operations cancelled.

"We have not cancelled them. The hospital has. Once our normal working arrangements are back in place, we will be back to work," said the paediatrics doctor.

Junior doctors are being trained to be consultants and they need to work alongside such senior staff, medics who are rostered from 9am to 5pm.

"All of our active training takes place from 9 to 5. It's when the ward rounds are made and where most teaching and learning takes place. We have no problem with being on call outside of these hours. But we need to have our key training hours protected," the Tramore man added.

Many of those who were seen for emergency procedures at the unit were supportive of the NCHDs in their efforts to restore rosters.

"I'm here for the chemo services. I couldn't say enough about the doctors here. They are absolutely fantastic. They work terribly long hours and they deserve our support.

"They wouldn't do this lightly and I would hope that a compromise could be reached soon," one woman said.