No agreement on new health service work practices

TALKS BETWEEN health service management and organisations representing hospital consultants on new work practices ended unsuccessfully last night.

The issue will now be referred to the Labour Relations Commission and ultimately could go to the Labour Court for a binding resolution.

The Health Service Executive said last night that while some clarity had been brought to bear on the issues, sufficient progress had not been made. It said given the HSE’s financial position and the timelines set out under the Croke Park agreement for dealing with disputes, it had sought the assistance of the Labour Relations Commission.

The Irish Medical Organisation said management had imposed a deadline which did not seem appropriate. As part of the talks, management has proposed that doctors appointed to a new entry-level hospital consultant post would not have the right to carry out private practice. Consultants appointed to such positions are also likely to be paid less than existing consultants.

A new paper drawn up by health service management and given to consultant representative organisations sets out for the first time the details surrounding the new grade, which will be known as a “consultant level 1” post.

It says these positions would initially be created in specialities such as emergency medicine, acute medicine, general medicine, general surgery, anaesthesia, geriatric medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, radiology and psychiatry. Over time, level 1 posts could be incorporated into other specialities and sub-specialities.The document does not specify the salary scale for the new positions.

Last night, Minister for Health James Reilly said it was important to remember that senior professionals in the health service had a leadership role.

“They can hardly expect those that they have seniority over to lead the way. They must lead the way.”

Separately, the State’s largest trade union, Siptu, has said it may ballot on industrial action over HSE proposals to introduce a longer working week for staff or to cut overtime payments in an attempt to tackle its potential €500 million financial deficit.

Siptu health division organiser Paul Bell said yesterday the HSE proposals had not been put forward formally by the HSE but had been raised verbally in discussions over recent days. He said he could not at this stage rule out holding a ballot on industrial action as a protective measure in response to the management proposals.

The Irish Times reported yesterday that options for dealing with the financial deficit proposed by the HSE included: asking staff to work two additional unpaid hours a week for two or three years; paying overtime only at the hourly flat rate with no premium payment; curtailing flexitime working, and ending the system of paying staff time-and-a-sixth for work carried out between 6pm and 8pm.

Dr Reilly said: “We are looking for the greatest co-operation possible from the professionals involved in the delivery of care and that includes doctors, nurses and allied healthcare professionals.”