Non-consultant doctors (NCHDs) at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin have served two weeks' notice of industrial action in a row over unrostered overtime payments and locum cover. Martin Wall,Industry Correspondent, reports.
The Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) said the hospital had breached both the non-consultant hospital doctor contract and the terms of the national agreement, Towards 2016.
The IMO, which represents the doctors at Beaumont, said it would consult with members and inform the hospital next week as to the nature of the industrial action that may be undertaken. It said that it remained available for talks to resolve the issues.
A Beaumont Hospital spokesman said it was expected that there would be talks between the parties in relation to the dispute.
Management at Beaumont has told medical staff that in future all unrostered overtime worked by non-consultant doctors would require the prior approval of the relevant consultant. It said it intended that all unrostered overtime carried out by non-consultant doctors should be kept to a minimum and not exceed 10 hours per week.
The hospital has said that it would pay for such authorised overtime as well as for rostered overtime by NCHDs. Unrostered overtime above 10 hours per week should only occur in a small number of specialities.
Beaumont also said that short-term cover for NCHDs who are absent should be provided from within the medical teams. It said this had always been the practice.
The hospital also said there were separate arrangements for long-term leave cover.