Madam, – I am writing with regard to the article relating to “overtime” payments to Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors (HEALTHplus, February 22nd). The “overtime” you report on is not a perk or easy number but rather these are hours that NCHDs are contractually obliged to work.
When most of the working population are enjoying their weekend or asleep in their beds, the on-call NCHDs are working to save life and limb in the many hospitals scattered across the country.
I can guarantee that working a 100-hour plus week is far from enjoyable, but when there is a contractual obligation and a patient need, you simply have to oblige.
Is it therefore unreasonable to be asked to be paid for the hours worked? If an NCHD is working double or triple the average number of hours per week then why shouldn’t they be paid double or triple their basic salary, having sacrificed health, home life and leisure time? The finger of blame for this situation must not be pointed at the NCHD forced to work this potentially unsafe number of hours, but rather at the decision- makers within the HSE and above. – Yours, etc,