Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 January 2013
665. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for Health his plans to improve the working conditions under which non consultant hospital doctors are currently working; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3851/13]
View answer669. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he and the Health Service Executive will act to limit the hours worked by non-consultant hospital doctors to 24 in a consecutive sitting and 60 in a week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3893/13]
View answer670. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he has any plans to change the shift hours of non-consultant hospital doctors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3894/13]
View answer671. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to an article (details supplied); his views of the contents of the article; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3895/13]
View answer672. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to tackle the treatment of non consultant hospital doctors; if he will put an end to the illegal long working hours being forced on such doctors; if his attention has been drawn to the detrimental impact of these long working hours have on these persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3902/13]
View answer674. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the current legislation in respect of the maximum length of a shift and meal break provisions for junior hospital doctors; if his attention has been drawn to the wide spread concern among such staff about their working conditions; and if he will outline the steps he will take to ensure all hospitals are in compliance with current legislation in this regard. [3938/13]
View answer678. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Health if the concerns of non-consultant hospital doctors in relation to working hours will be addressed; if the European Working Time Directive will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3985/13]
View answer685. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the ongoing situation regarding non consultant hospital doctors and junior doctors who are working shifts of 36 hours or more and where some doctors are working more than 70 hours a week in total and are suffering from mental and physical health problems as a result which is also jeopardising the quality of care of hospital patients; the action he will take in response to the Health Service Executive's non-compliance with the EU Working Time Directive transposed into the Statutory Instrument No. 494 of 2004 which states the maximum number of hours of work per week should not exceed 48 hours from 1 August 2009 onwards and 11 hours of rest is mandatory every 24 hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4113/13]
View answer692. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the working hours of non-consultant hospital doctors (details supplied). [4195/13]
View answer694. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the current law in respect of the maximum length of a shift and meal break provisions for non consultant hospital doctors; if his attention has been drawn to the wide spread concern among such staff regarding the working conditions; and the steps he will take to ensure that all hospitals are in compliance with the law. [4199/13]
View answer697. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the EU working time directive in respect of junior doctors; if he will confirm that this will be applied in full; the measures being put in place to monitor the application of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4224/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 665, 669 to 672, inclusive, 674, 678, 685, 692, 694 and 697 together.
The Government is committed to achieving compliance with the European Working Time Directive in respect of non-consultant hospital doctors (NCHDs) by 2014. I have emphasised to the HSE the high priority the Government and I attach to this issue. In January 2012, a detailed plan for the achievement of compliance by NCHDs with the Working Time Directive was submitted to the EU Commission. The plan affirmed Ireland's commitment to achieving compliance with the Directive over a three-year time period. It committed to implementing the measures necessary, including: the implementation of new work patterns for medical staff, transfer of work undertaken by NCHDs to other grades, and the organisation of hospital services to support compliance.
The Health Service Executive’s Service Plan for 2013 specifically recognises the need to address the issue as a priority, stating that there will be a particular focus in the acute hospital service on the achievement of compliance with the European Working Time Directive amongst the non-consultant hospital doctor workforce, in line with the Implementation Plan submitted to the Commission in 2012. The HSE is currently finalising its National Operational Plan to support the implementation of the National Service Plan 2013. This will specify in greater detail the actions to be taken during the year in relation to EWTD compliance. A key priority for the HSE in 2013 will be a further reduction of average weekly hours worked and also a reduction in the duration of shifts undertaken.
S.I. No. 494 of 2004 European Communities (Organisation of Working Time) (Activities of Doctors in Training) Regulations 2004, which transposed the EU Working Time Directive for doctors in training, provides for: A maximum 48 hour average working week; A 30 minute rest break every 6 hours during period on-site on-call; 11 hours rest every 24 hours or equivalent compensatory rest before return to work; and 35 hours continuous rest per week or twice a fortnight or 59 hours continuous rest per fortnight. The 2010 Contract of Employment for NCHDs, which these staff sign on appointment, reflects the above provisions. The contract also provides that NCHDs shall not be required to work more than 24 consecutive hours on-site. A related agreement between the HSE and the Irish Medical Organisation provides that the contract is subject to the requirements of the Directive.
