Vol. 441 No. 7
91 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the proposals, if any, he has to introduce reasonable working conditions for junior hospital doctors, with special reference to the needs and requirements of the patients and the doctors; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Junior hospital doctors work to standard conditions of service which were negotiated with the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) which represents the interests of such doctors.
These conditions are the subject of discussion and review at present between representatives of my Department, the Local Government Staff Negotiations Board, the Irish Business and Employers Confederation and the IMO. This group is also conducting a sample survey of the hours worked by junior doctors in particular hospitals which is to be completed by the end of May.
I hope that the general review will be completed shortly after the conclusion of the working hours study. Obviously my objective is to provide decent working conditions for doctors and safe clinical conditions for patients.
