Trainee GPs may quit out-of hours work

The Irish Medical Organisation has warned general practice trainees may cease out-of-hours work if a ballot on industrial action is approved.

The IMO has balloted its GP trainee members in response to the suspension of the GP registrar out-of-hours allowance for new beneficiaries.

If the ballot is passed, action could involve removing GP trainees from the out-of-hours system, where they must complete at least 120 hours to finish training.

The out-of-hours allowance is €11,428 per annum and is unavailable to third-year GP registrars. It represents about 20% of a GP registrar’s salary. The living-out allowance for junior doctor senior house officers, interns, and registrars has also been hit and is worth €3,182 per year.

Both are suspended for new beneficiaries but could be removed completely pending the outcome of a review of more than 800 public sector allowances.

In a letter to trainees, George McNeice, IMO chief executive said the removal of the out-of-hours allowance was a breach of the Croke Park agreement. “This decision has not been taken lightly. However, without concerted and determined action, the HSE will continue to breach a nationally agreed contract,” said Mr McNeice.

Dr Gerry Mansfield of the Irish College of General Practitioners said if the allowance were removed completely, the impact would be widespread.

“The ICGP is concerned that if the issue is not resolved quickly the implications for general practice could be very serious,” Dr Mansfield said.