Health services - Overtime culture out of control

VERY considerable progress has been made in the last three years in controlling overtime costs for hospital registrars and in the wider health services but still more needs to be done.

Three years ago the Health Service Executive paid an unsustainable €219 million but in the first six months of this year that figure was less than a quarter of that — €51m — but it still hit the €2m mark every week. Under the scheme 15 hospital doctors more than doubled their salaries of around €80,000 by earning €100,000 extra in overtime last year. At least one registrar was paid over €130,000 in overtime alone.

The doctors are not alone. More than 100 paramedics earn over €6 million in overtime, sick leave cover and annual leave cover. This, in some instances, quadruples basic pay. The HSE has confirmed that 107 paramedics, advanced paramedics and supervisors each receive over €100,000 a year.