IMO rejects work time directive criticism

The Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) has rejected Government chief whip Mary Hanafin’s claims that the organisation has been "intransigent" in relation to implementation of the EU working time directive.

The directive requires the Government to reduce working hours for junior doctors, but Ms Hanafin has admitted that it will not be implemented by the August 1 deadline.

She has blamed this failure on what she described as the IMO’s “absolute, intransigent position” and accused the organisation of not wanting to give up the €2m that junior doctors are paid in overtime every year.

The IMO has hit back by saying the failure to implement the working time directive was due to the Government’s unwillingness to provide the necessary resources and to plan for the move in advance.

Spokesman Fintan Hourihan said: “There has to be significant investment in extra doctors and primary care. There has to be discussion with nursing and other unions to enable some of the duties undertaken by doctors at present to be undertaken by nurses and others.

"There’s a lot that should have happened, but hasn’t happened.”