Junior doctors dispute referred to LRC

The Health Service Executive has referred the industrial action called by junior doctors to the Labour Relations Commission.

The HSE said it was seeking an early hearing at the LRC over plans by junior doctor members of the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) to stage a one-day strike later this month over the issue of long hours.

It argued that significant progress has been made in many hospitals on meeting the interim target for working hours set by the European Commission, which provide for a maximum average working week of 68 hours and a maximum shift of 24 hours.

Less than 5 per cent of junior doctors are now working more than 68 hours a week, according to the HSE, while one-third are working shifts of more than 24 hours. The HSE was continuing to work towards compliance with the European working time directive, it said.

Extraordinary
An IMO spokesman said it seemed "extraordinary that the HSE would refer a matter to the LRC without making one single attempt to make proposals themselves to resolve the issue".

He described the move as “a total abdication of responsibility and an abuse of the industrial relations process. Nevertheless if we are invited to discuss the matter by the LRC we will of course attend. We are continuing with our plans for a national strike of NCHDs on Thursday, 25th September next.”

Earlier, junior doctors promised to provide the equivalent of weekend staffing levels during their one-day strike, and to allow dialysis and oncology services to operate as normal.

The IMO and the HSE met yesterday to discuss contingency arrangements for the strike. Talks will resume tomorrow.

Afterwards, the IMO said that to minimise the impact of the dispute, its non-consultant hospital doctor committee had offered to make available on the day of the strike the same number of junior doctors as are rostered at weekends “plus one additional NCHD”.

The committee renewed its criticism of the approach of the HSE to the dispute.

Safe working environment
"By failing to provide any proposals to resolve the issues the HSE are abdicating their responsibilities to provide a safe working environment for doctors and a quality service to patients," said IMO assistant director of industrial relations Eric Young.

Meanwhile, Taoiseach Enda Kenny called on the junior doctors to “reflect” on their strike plans, given their desire not to put patients’ care at risk. “As the Minister himself said, you don’t ask a truck driver to work 100 hours a week nor should you ask doctors. I hope that common sense will apply here.”

He said he didn’t like to see strikes anywhere but was glad unions had accepted Haddington Road.

Junior doctors are demanding an end to shifts over 24 hours and an agreement for compliance with the European directive by the end of 2014.