Consultants to challenge new contract proposals

HOSPITAL consultants will be required to work overtime without additional pay, under the proposed terms of a new contract.

The draft contract, dated March 12, stipulates that consultants must work a 39-hour week, but that “exigencies of the service may require that you work beyond your rostered period without additional remuneration”.

However, any overtime must comply with the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 or any amending legislation.

General secretary of the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA), Finbarr Fitzpatrick, said this proposal was “unsurprisingly, not received with enthusiasm”.

Three days this week, including today, have been pencilled in for talks to continue between consultants and the Health Service Executive (HSE) in an effort to reach agreement on the terms of a new contract before the Government-set deadline of March 27.

Last night, Mr Fitzpatrick said it would be “miraculous” if the talks’ chairman, Mark Connaughton SC, could hammer out an agreement by then.

He said there were still a number of proposals in the contract that consultants were unhappy with, including what the association regards as a gagging clause.

The draft contract states that any consultants who choose to advocate on behalf of patients or persons waiting for consultation or treatment “should do so ... through the relevant clinical director or other line manager and the consultant should seek the approval of the clinical director before engaging personally in any further advocacy”.

The contract also says: “In the course of your employment you may have access to, or hear information concerning the medical or personal affairs of patients and/or staff. Such records and information are strictly confidential,” and unless “acting on the instructions of an authorised officer, information concerning staff, patients or other health service business should not be divulged or discussed except in the performance of normal duty”.

Mr Fitzpatrick said these proposals copper-fastened difficulties in advocating for patients.

Consultants will also be obliged to co-operate in the administration of the National Treatment Purchase Fund set-up to reduce long-term waiting lists.

The draft contract also reinforces the Government plan to ensure a consultant- provided rather than a consultant-led service. The role of each consultant will be “to provide, personally, medical diagnosis, treatment and care to patients”.

Mr Fitzpatrick said last week’s discussions centred on proposals for rostering including working five days in seven; 24-hour consultant availability on-site; extended working day, for example 7am-10pm; on-call/call-out arrangements. Annual leave is set at 31 days per annum.