No truth to comment about emergency medicine consultants

WAS surprised, and disappointed, to see Taoiseach Bertie Ahern reiterating to Dáil Éireann on Wednesday, March 28, the myth that consultants in emergency medicine are not available after 5.30pm in accident and emergency departments.

He claimed that this is the kernel of the current problems.

The contract offered to me by the Department of Health and Children details that I will provide 33 hours of scheduled service per week, during a normal working day. I have a commitment for a further six 'unscheduled' hours which, if they become more than infrequent, either must lead to a readjustment of my schedule to remove them, or to an increase in my salary. Neither of these options has ever been availed of.