Union warns of further action as more than 3,000 junior doctors go on strike

More than 3,000 junior doctors have gone on strike — with the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) warning of more industrial action.

The medics have withdrawn their services in 51 hospitals across the country as part of their day of action in response to a long-running dispute with the HSE over working hours, a move that has led to the deferral of thousands of public hospital appointments and elective surgery.

The IMO has warned of further days of action unless the HSE showed it was serious about resolving the issue.

IMO assistant director of industrial relations Eric Young said the HSE must demonstrate a commitment to engaging with the union in a credible way or there would be further disruptions ahead.

HSE chief Tony O’Brien said the health authority would reschedule appointments for the patients affected by the one-day strike as quickly as possible.

However, he warned that the HSE’s ability to accommodate patients depended on a speedy resolution of the dispute and no further withdrawal of labour by the doctors.

Non-consultant hospital doctors have agreed to provide the equivalent of Sunday cover today. However, their action has resulted in the deferral of around 12,000 out-patient appointments and 3,000 planned operations.

The HSE said emergency services would not be affected and that cancer and dialysis treatments would proceed as normal.

Mr O’Brien said yesterday the doctors’ strike was avoidable but inevitable.

“Our aim would be to get the talks back on as quickly as possible because I see no necessity, desirability or point in any further industrial action,” he said.

Asked if patients affected might end up at the back of the queue for public health services, Mr O’Brien said: “Until we have a resolution, it is very difficult for us to be definitive but we certainly won’t allow those patients to be forgotten.”

Mr O’Brien said the way to resolve the dispute was through further engagement with the Labour Relations Commission.

“We have sought those talks; the LRC has sought those talks but the IMO has indicated that it is not in a position, or is not yet willing to return to those talks.”

Mr O’Brien said he hoped that the doctors would return to the LRC for talks after today’s strike.

“It is simply untenable, on the basis of what little divides us, that Irish patients would be subjected to a rolling process of one day or multiple day strikes, either regionally or nationally.”

He said the health authority was prepared to introduce sanctions that would impact on hospitals but not ones that would result in an increase in pay for doctors who might work more than 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the Irish Association for Emergency Medicine said that while emergencies will continue to be managed during the industrial action, there will be disruption to services and delays for patients.