Latest HSE attack on NCHDs – an attempt to deprive NCHDs of legitimate payment for Unrostered Overtime

The HSE has consistently misinterpreted, breached or deliberately ignored various terms of the NCHD contract for the last 18 months. Now that organisation is attempting to force NCHDs to work unrostered overtime for no money in some of the key hospitals in the country including

• Cork University Hospital
• Waterford Regional Hospital
•  Wexford General Hospital
• South Tipperary General Hospital

This is a clear attempt to bully NCHDs and would impact directly on as many as 500 doctors. If unchallenged it will encourage other hospitals to introduce similar changes to the detriment of NCHDs [and of course their patients] across the country. It is intolerable and the IMO is determined to resist it.

In this context, I would ask all NCHDs engage with the IMO in our defence of your rights as follows:

• Keep the IMO fully informed as to the status of overtime payments in your hospital. Please click here to update us:
• Complete overtime claim forms for every hour worked, including rostered and unrostered hours
• Submit claim forms for payment as soon and as regularly as possible
• Keep copies of submitted claim forms and check against payslips
• Report any non-payment in writing to payroll in your hospital and to the IMO

The IMO will continue to fight on behalf of NCHDs and to defend their rights. In the past 3 weeks we’ve met with doctors in as many as 25 different hospitals up and down the country and the frustration and anger of NCHDs is palpable.

As previously advised the IMO is considering balloting NCHD members on non-implementation of the contract. Given this most recent breach of the contract by the HSE, combined with all the other pre-existing difficulties faced by NCHDs, the necessity of conducting such a ballot is increasing on a daily basis. NCHD members will receive further communication as matters develop.