GENERAL PRACTITIONERS in the west are facing delays in repayment of locum cover, due to HSE West’s non-replacement of staff on maternity leave.
HSE West says it is making efforts to resolve the issue, but has been unable to say how many GPs are affected by the situation.
It has confirmed that locum holiday schedules for GPs have not been signed off. In a brief statement, it said that “the person responsible is on maternity leave”.
Dr Mary Rogan, GP at Annaghdown Clinic in north Galway who first highlighted the issue, believes that a number of her colleagues have been affected, and she has already contacted the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) about the problem.
The backlog issue emerged when Dr Rogan submitted a claim to the HSE West more than two months ago for reimbursement of locum cover which she had paid for earlier this year.
She was informed that the official’s superior, who is in charge of primary care, had refused to sign any locum holiday schedules as it was “not his job”. He had suggested that Dr Rogan contact HSE West community care.
Dr Rogan did this, and was told by community care officials that “the person authorised to sign them is on maternity leave and has not been replaced”.
Community care advised her to contact the official in charge of primary care – the same official who had already indicated that he would not approve the claims.
Last year, the National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI) expressed serious concern about erosion of statutory provisions on maternity leave cover in the health service at national level.
An “unofficial” policy applied by the HSE under its “employment control framework’’ was hampering recruitment of temporary staff to replace people on maternity leave, according to the National Women’s Council of Ireland.
Obstacles within the HSE framework of January 2008 were also affecting cover for staff on long-term sick leave and on unpaid career breaks.
This was placing “enormous and unfair pressure” on professionals across the health service, according to the council.
The Equality Authority also warned that provision of satisfactory maternity leave arrangements was “crucial in terms of corporate social responsibility”.
The Irish Nurses Organisation (INO), Siptu trade union and the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) had all confirmed to The Irish Timesmore than a year ago that they were aware of instances where maternity leave cover was not being provided, or had been arranged at the "last minute".