Greens seek deal for junior doctors

A better deal for junior doctors was sought by Green Party spokesman on health John Gormley.

"I have come across cases involving junior doctors. One was sent to apply a drip to a patient who had been on a Buxton chair for days in a hospital. The junior doctor was so tired that he fell asleep while treating the patient," he said.

"I have been told that a lady went to be treated and was misdiagnosed by a junior doctor before being sent home with a perforated bowel. Unfortunately, and tragically, the woman died because of the misdiagnosis."

The workload of junior doctors was far too high, he said. "One aspect of the Hanly report is that we need more consultants. We need properly-trained personnel in hospitals rather than having overworked junior doctors trying to deal with those very complex issues."

Mr Gormley said it was often said the professions were a conspiracy against the laity. However, according to some people, the Bill was seen as a conspiracy of the laity against the profession.

He fully understood the reasoning behind the composition of the Irish Medical Council. They could take into account malpractice, the horror stories from Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and the Neary case. In that instance, there was quite clearly too cosy a relationship between Dr Neary and his colleagues, sitting down for a cup of tea to discuss the case.

From a political point of view, it made good sense to have a lay majority on the council and it looked good. But he wondered if it was wise to proceed down that road. Those who had made representations to him felt that there was an imbalance and that people with clinical expertise were not being represented to the extent they ought to be.

Sinn Féin spokesman Seán Crowe said they were still waiting for a scheme of redress to deal with all claims of medical negligence made by women who were in the care of consultants and staff at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital between 1974 and 1998.

"The sad reality is that self-regulation by the professionals, in this case, did not work and led to a grave injustice being done to patients."

Finian McGrath (Independent, Dublin North Central) said it should be borne in mind that the consultants were major stakeholders in the health service. "I strongly support the policy of consultants working in the public sector, and it must be emphasised that they have made a major contribution to the development of the health services. Some of the best consultants in the world work in our hospitals and are saving lives every day."

Dr Jimmy Devins (FF, Sligo-Leitrim) said one of the most remarkable facts about medicine, in Ireland and many other countries, was that once doctors had qualified, they did not need to undergo any further training or education if they did not want to.

Medicine was a complex, and, thanks to the explosion of knowledge, a rapidly changing profession. "Speaking as a former practising general practitioner in Sligo, it is obvious that to practise safely, and to the highest possible standards, continuing education is essential.

"Most medics, of whom I am aware, do this either by further study, attending lectures or courses, or keeping up to date by reading medical journals."