The dispute at Waterford Regional Hospital has been suspended.
The Irish Medical Organisation (IMO), which is representing junior doctors in dispute over new roster arrangements at the hospital, said late this afternoon they had called off their industrial action until Tuesday, pending the outcome of talks expected to begin tomorrow.
The discussions between the IMO and Health Service Employers Agency (HSEA) are expected to be chaired by the Labour Relations Commission. This afternoon’s announcement followed the HSEA’s agreement to suspend the new roster pending the outcome of the talks.
The dispute at Waterford Regional entered its second day today with 16 operations and 18 out-patient appointments cancelled.
The South Eastern Health Board described the situation as "very difficult" after junior doctors withdrew from non-essential and non-cancer-related treatments yesterday. Scheduled dialysis and maternity outpatient clinics and the coronary care unit operated as normal today.
The IMO says the new rosters will mean less training for the doctors who work alongside consultants. But the HSEA claims the doctors' action is an attempt to protect their considerable overtime earnings.
If the weekend talks fail, then the work-to-rule will resume on Tuesday, the same day a three-day dispute at Tullamore General is due to begin.
Earlier today, the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, was called upon to "come out of hiding" over the dispute and was been told his intervention was needed to avert a nationwide strike.
Labour health spokeswoman Ms Liz McManus and Waterford-based Fine Gael senator Mr Maurice Cummins, both hit out at the Minister’s silence over the dispute and the threat that the dispute could go nationwide when the result of a ballot of junior doctors is known on August 23rd.
"The Minister has not been seen or heard since the health cuts were announced by his spin doctors," Mr Cummins said today. "Waiting lists are already at a disgracefully high level. Minister Martin must now tackle the problem head on before any widening of this dispute cripples the health services entirely," he added.
Ms Liz McManus called on the Minister to take "pre-emptive" action to prevent the dispute spreading throughout the State.
"Initially, the Minister made unhelpful comments about this situation. Since then there has been deafening silence from him. He has a role to intervene to protect the many people who are suffering, many of them in pain and discomfort, and the many others who will suffer if and when this dispute escalates," she said.