Strike by junior doctors put on hold

A planned strike by junior doctors has been put on hold to allow time to consider proposals tabled by the HSE.

Late last night the Irish Medical Organisation confirmed the threatened strike by junior doctors next Wednesday had been postponed by one week.

The IMO’s non-consultant hospital doctors’ committee now plans to meet on Monday to consider what it will do next.

The apparent breakthrough followed negotiations between the IMO and the HSE at the Labour Relations Commission.

During these talks the HSE tabled a detailed proposal to resolve the dispute and reduce the workload of junior doctors.

These plans will now be considered by the IMO and a decision will then be taken on whether the strike will take place a week late. On Thursday both the HSE and IMO visited two pilot sites at hospitals to review verification options for doctors’ rosters.

However, the IMO has said it remains committed to ensuring 24-hour shifts are outlawed. It has been insistent that any effort to amend rosters can be subject to independent verification.

It was reported that a statement on behalf of the HSE welcomed the decision to suspend the strike.