IMO responds to Report of Public Sector Pay Commission

• Welcome for recognition that recruitment of medical professionals is a problem in the health sector
• IMO President urges Government to deal with this issue in forthcoming pay negotiations

Tuesday 9^th May 2017.  The Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) has welcomed that the Public Sector Pay Commission has identified the problems of retention and recruitment of doctors in our health services.

Speaking today, Dr. Ann Hogan, President of the Irish Medical Organisation, welcomed the report; “we have argued long and hard that Ireland was facing a problem of recruiting and retaining doctors within our public health services.  We hope that with the publication of this Report from the Commission, Government will now seek to take proactive and significant measures to find a solution and set out a roadmap for action.  We can’t afford the luxury of waiting around.”

Dr Hogan continued; “If we want a health service that offers the best possible care to patients we must make every effort to ensure we can recruit and retain doctors.  At any given time there are almost 400 Consultant vacancies in our health services and over 80% of our graduates intend to emigrate and this is having a direct impact on increasing waiting times for patients and a reduction in services. “

Dr. Hogan said that the IMO will be putting pressure on Government to move forward quickly on the pay agenda and to deal comprehensively with the issues in the context of the forthcoming public pay talks.