asked the Minister for Health if, having regard to the growing serious risks to sick and injured persons caused by the current dispute involving hospital laboratory technicians, he will have substitute emergency services provided.
Private Notice Question: - Hospital Laboratory Technicians Dispute.
I understand that the Labour Court decided on Friday last to meet the parties to the dispute tomorrow. The officers of my Department have been in touch with the affected hospitals with a view to securing that the services will be available to patients needing them in emergencies. Further discussions with other hospitals are being held as appropriate in changing circumstances.
I am sure the Deputy would not expect me, at this stage, to be more precise, except to say that for night accident services it has been arranged that for tonight, tomorrow night and the night after the hospitals providing this service will be Jervis Street on the north side and Steevens and St. Vincent's hospitals on the south side. These hospitals will be available for accident services on an emergency basis for three nights after which we hope the Labour Court will have succeeded in improving the situation.
I want to be very careful not to say anything which would make a settlement of the dispute more difficult. I am sure that I am expressing the unanimous wish of the House when I say that I hope a solution, through the good offices of the Labour Court, will be found tomorrow, or if that is not possible immediately, that the technicians who are on strike will resume duty while negotiations are proceeding so as to obviate the possibility, however remote, that an avoidable tragedy should occur.
Can the Minister assure us that the non-availability of two hospitals as announced today for accidents will not cause any serious risk to people who may be injured in accidents?
I have already informed the Deputy that the normal rotational system for accidents has been changed and that for three successive nights Jervis Street, Steevens and Vincent's Hospitals will be available for accident emergencies.
Having regard to the peculiar humanitarian problems involved in this case, would the Minister consider intervening himself to expedite a settlement giving fair remuneration to laboratory technicians commensurate with the importance of their duties and the care and skill involved because these appear to be the problems which have not been recognised and have given cause for the dispute.
I prefer not to give a history of the revision of salary scales and other improvements that have taken place in the laboratory technicians' pay and conditions. I am not the employer in this case and I do not think it would be right for me to intervene, certainly at the present time. The negotiations have been continuing and I do hope that the Labour Court will be able to find a solution.
In the meantime I should add that the laboratory technicians, if they receive evidence from the consultant in charge, are prepared to give service in very grave cases requiring emergency and quick examination and also that the pathologists are assisting when so required.