HOSPITAL DOCTORS WHO are currently embroiled in a bitter dispute with the HSE have criticised the agency’s national director of human resources for claiming they were seeking triple pay.
Speaking to Morning Ireland today, Barry O’Brien said the demand was a “perverse incentive”.
In a statement issued this evening, the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) has clarified its position.
“This dispute is not about extra pay for NCHDs (non-consultant hospital doctors),” said senior industrial relations executive Val Moran.
“It’s about getting the HSE to end the illegal practice of forcing young doctors to work continuous shifts in excess of 24 hours at a time and often up to 100 hours a week.”
The union has proposed a system where a hospital would be punished monetarily if it does not follow the European Working Time Directive.
“If the HSE meets its commitments there will be no sanctions but if they won’t agree to sanctions it tells us they have no confidence in their plan to end dangerous working hours,” continued Moran.
The IMO wants to continue the current rates of pay for hours worked in excess of 24 hours in a single shift. That is 1.25 times the normal hourly rate. On top of that, the doctors want a commitment from the HSE that any time a doctor works over 24 hours in-a-row, he/she will be entitled to time off, in lieu.
Many hospitals claim they do not have the resources to allow time off. Where this is the case, the doctors want to be paid for the extra hours at a standard hourly rate. That means, they would receive 1.25 times the hourly rate plus the standard rate.
“Our proposal is simple,” continued Moran. “We want an end to shifts of more than 24 hours and we want the HSE to abide by the European Working Time Directive (EWTD).
“If this is achieved there is no extra pay what-so-ever. However given that the HSE has such an appalling record on this issue, we want to agree now that where the HSE fails in this regard they will have to given the NCHD in question time in lieu for the hours worked above 24 hours in the shift or pay him/her their normal hourly rate.”
The IMO is planning industrial action on 8 October.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say