HSE refers doctors dispute for mediation

The junior doctors strike threatening to derail the health service could be over before it has even begun after the HSE referred the matter to the Labour Relations Commission.

A spokesperson for the doctors’ union reacted with anger to the move, saying the HSE move was a “total abdication of responsibility”, but stated the union would attend the talks if invited.

Health service bosses contacted the State resolution group last night after a day of discussions with the Irish Medical Organisation.

The meeting with the union was scheduled in order to clarify what contingency measures can be put in place when the strike commences on Sept 25.

However, once it ended, HSE officials confirmed they have referred the planned industrial action to the LRC.

Depending on what step the independent body takes to the request for intervention, the IMO could now be asked to put the strike on hold while further discussions take place.

A spokesperson for the doctors’ union said: “It seems extraordinary that the HSE would refer a matter to the LRC without making one single attempt to make proposals themselves to resolve the issue.

“It is a total abdication of responsibility and an abuse of the industrial relations process.

“Nevertheless, if we are invited to discuss the matter by the LRC we will of course attend. We are continuing with our plans for a national strike of non-consultant hospital doctors [junior doctors] on Sept 25.”

The doctors’ union had earlier released further details on what the planned strike action will involve.

In order to “minimise” the impact on patients, the IMO said it will ensure the same number of junior doctors usually rostered for weekends will be available on the days of the strike action. Oncology and dialysis services “should not” be affected by the measures, a spokesperson said.

While the IMO insists excessive and “dangerous” junior doctor shift lengths have not been addressed, the HSE insists the opposite is the case.

A HSE spokesperson said the health service has made “significant progress in many hospitals” in recent months to “meet two interim targets set by the European Commission,” to lower working hours.

“By the end of August, less than 5% (166) of junior doctors were working in excess of 68 hours per week. The number of junior doctors working shifts in excess of 24 hours has decreased from 58% of junior doctors in March to 34% in August.”

Speaking in Midleton, East Cork, yesterday, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said he hoped the European Working Time Directive stipulation that no one should be working more than 48 hours a week or face 24-long shifts will be “in effect” by the end of next year.

He said the Government is “serious” about meeting these commitments, adding he “wouldn’t like to see strikes anywhere” and hopes “hundreds of patients” who could be affected will receive the help they need.

The IMO is planning a national strike on Sept 25 and will repeat the measure in at least one hospital in each HSE region every week after that date.