THE RESULT OF a ballot of 2,000 non-consultant hospital doctors on possible industrial action will be released later today.
The Irish Medical Organisation has warned that a strike by the NCHDs is “inevitable” because of illegal working hours.
The group says that junior doctors are often working up to 100 hours per week in Irish hospitals, contrary to the EU working time directive which states the average week should include no more than 48 work hours.
Details of any action will be worked out later this week. The IMO and the HSE plans to meet on Wednesday to agree on a contingency plan to ensure emergency services are not impacted.
Ireland has already promised Europe that it would meet the directive’s criteria on junior doctors’ working hours by the end of 2014.
The #24nomore campaign has called for an immediate end to shifts that last longer than 24 hours as they pose a risk to patient safety and the welfare of NCHDs.
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