Pregnant doctor is denied locum cover

PREGNANT junior hospital doctors due to take maternity leave are being refused locum cover in the latest fall-out from the Health Service Executive’s (HSE) staff recruitment ban.

The Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) last night revealed that a doctor at Limerick Regional Hospital, due to go on maternity leave, had her request for cover turned down.

“We’ve made a number of representations on this woman’s behalf and they’ve refused to respond to any of our queries,” said IMO director of industrial relations Mr Hourihan.