David Cullinane
Question:1423. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his plans to address unsafe and illegal hours worked by non-consultant hospital doctors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29067/22]
View answerTuesday, 14 June 2022
Questions (1423)
Written answers
As I confirmed at the recent IMO AGM, the Government is committed to reducing NCHDs working hours and improving their working conditions.
Significant progress was made in reducing NCHDs working hours prior to the pandemic, driven by the work of the National EWTD Implementation Group that included representation from the HSE, the IMO and the Department of Health. This led to significant reductions in average weekly working hours and significant improvements in compliance with the maximum 48 hour working week and the maximum 24 hour shifts previously agreed with the IMO. The Group has now been re-established and will focus on improving compliance, particularly in sites where compliance is identified as problematic. In the longer term, the service delivery model, the number of consultants and the ratio of consultants to NCHDs must be improved to reduce the reliance on NCHDs.
NCHDs should not have to work unsafe and illegal hours. The HSE and other employers must honour the terms of the NCHD Contract and ensure that NCHDs benefit fully from those terms, including terms relating to working hours. They must also be given access to training and be able to take annual and study leave and get paid for all hours they have worked.