Doctors may ballot over on-call limit

Hospital doctors are considering industrial action over the HSE’s failure to introduce a maximum limit of 24 hours for on-call periods.

The HSE had set of a deadline of Jun 1 for introducing the limit in order to be compliant with the European Working Time Directive. The full implementation of that directive is not expected before the end of 2014, but the on-call periods were expected to be brought in much sooner.

In March, HSE chief operations officer Laverne McGuinness told the joint Oireachtas committee on health and children that there was a “particular focus” on ensuring no non-consultant hospital doctor (NCHD) had to work over 24 continuous hours on-site after Jun 1.