IMO vote in favour of industrial action

Public Health Doctors in the Irish Medical Organisation, returned ballot papers with 94% in favour of industrial action following continuous delays on the part of the Department of Health & Children to enter into constructive negotiations on a number of issues.

Dr Fenton Howell, Chairman of the IMO Public Health Committee said: "The delay in implementing the Brennan Review Report, which was initially due to be completed as far back as 1996 and was not published until April 2002, has led public health doctors to believe that the Department of Health & Children do not consider them a priority and have no difficulty in abusing the goodwill shown by these doctors."

All Public Health Doctors are involved in the management and control of infectious diseases such as meningitis, tuberculosis, the winter vomiting bug, food poisoning and bio-terrorism threats.

He said: "Departments of Public Health are essential in providing advice on medical issues to Chief Executive Officers and Members of Health Boards. They are also involved in assessing needs for health services, contributing and evaluating health service planning and monitoring the health status of the population."

"As a matter of urgency, the Brennan Report, also recommend that a formal 'out of hours' arrangement be negotiated and put in place.

"We are all too familiar with the ongoing threat of a bio-terrorist attack. To date the Government has failed to organise on-call rosters of public health doctors in order to heighten preparedness for any potential bio-terrorist threat, as well as the management of infectious diseases on an out-of-hours basis."