Doctors’ union to meet HSE over protest

A doctors’ trade union is to meet the Health Service Executive (HSE) next week to plan for emergency cover in the event of work stoppages in protest over junior doctors’ working hours.

The Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) said it was disappointed with the outcome of a meeting held with the HSE this week to discuss the issue.

Non-consultant hospital doctors are being balloted over whether to step up its campaign to end their current system of lengthy shifts.

The IMO said junior doctors could sometimes work up to 100 hours a week, in direct contravention of the European Working Time Directive. They could also frequently work for more than 24 hours at a time.

“It isn’t safe for patients, and it isn’t safe for doctors either,” said Eric Young of the IMO.

Mr Young said the IMO said the HSE was showing contempt for the issue and was not prepared to engage with them on how to end it.

As strike action loomed, the health authority was proposing another working group.

“This is a mere stalling tactic and is not facing up to the real problem of illegal working hours,” he said.

The union is meeting the EU Commission next month to discuss the lack of progress on implementing a 48-hour working week for junior doctors.

NCHD members of the IMO are being balloted on industrial action, up to and including strike action, on the working hours issue, with a result expected on Sep 2.