GPs offered over €1,000 a night to cover emergency department gaps

GPs are being offered more than €1,000 a night to cover chronic emergency department staff gaps at one of the country’s leading hospitals.

The €110-per-hour deal was made to “experienced” doctors last week by management at Cork University Hospital.

Correspondence obtained by trade newspaper Irish Medical News shows the hospital made the request for primary care medics to work “one or two, or more” 10pm-8am night shifts to fill the gaps.