IMO cynical over Reilly’s promise to address working hours

Doctors have reacted with cynicism to health minister James Reilly’s promise to proactively address Ireland’s junior doctor crisis just hours before a major international probe into the issue was launched.

The Irish Medical Organisation’s director of industrial relations, Steve Tweed, made the claim yesterday after the European Commission confirmed that it is set to re-examine the Department of Health’s handling of the issue.

Speaking at the Oireachtas Health Committee meeting on Thursday, Dr Reilly said any situation where junior doctors have to work excessive and potentially dangerous hospital shift lengths — sometimes ranging up to 100 hours per week — was “immoral” and “perverse”.