Vol. 574 No. 5
148 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children the action he intends to take to implement the working time directive for non-consultant hospital doctors in small hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27397/03]
The report of the national task force on medical staffing contains a series of recommendations on reducing the average working hours of non-consultant hospital doctors in all hospitals, including smaller facilities. The most immediate steps required are: a replacement of the present system of tiered or layered on-call service, where a number of junior doctors are on call at once; use of cross cover between specialities, so that the number of doctors on call at once can safely be reduced; and revised working patterns for junior doctors.
The Health Services Employers Agency has written to the Irish Medical Organisation inviting it to recommence discussions in the Labour Relations Commission on issues associated with the implementation of the European working time directive. A date for the recommencement of discussions is to be agreed between both parties. The task force also recommends a series of medium to long-term measures which will be of considerable importance in helping reduce the average working hours of NCHDs. Those include the development of a consultant-provided service and the reorganisation of acute hospital services.
