Ballot sees NCHDs vote overwhelmingly (97%) in favour of escalating campaign to include industrial action, up to and including strike action.

Series of meetings tomorrow (Tues) expected to prepare way for campaign of industrial action in Irish hospitals before end of September

Criticism of Minister Reilly’s “sympathy” for NCHDs – “he talks like he’s still President of the IMO but he acts just like any other Minister for Health by doing nothing to address the issue”

Monday 2nd September 2013 – The Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) has confirmed that NCHD members have voted overwhelmingly to escalate the campaign against “dangerously long” working hours to include industrial action, up to and including strike action. A ballot of members undertaken over the past few weeks concluded today. 97% of ballots supported the motion to escalate the dispute up to and including industrial action. Approximately 1,000 completed ballots were received up to the deadline this evening.

The IMO also confirmed that a special meeting of the NCHD Committee of the organisation will meet tomorrow to decide on the next steps in their campaign. A meeting of the IMO Council will also take place tomorrow at which formal approval will be sought to begin a campaign of industrial action amongst NCHDs.

Speaking today Eric Young (Assistant Director of Industrial Relations at the IMO) said that the ballot result was unambiguous; “Doctors are worried and angry. The concerns which they highlighted about the danger posed to hospital patients and to themselves continue to be ignored and there is now a strong appetite to step up the campaign to force the HSE and the Department of Health to do what everyone knows must be done – implement the European Working Time Directive and stop the dangerous and cruel exploitation of NCHDs in Irish hospitals.”

Mr. Young was critical of comments made by the Minister for Health and reported in today’s Irish Independent in which he sympathised with the plight of NCHDs; “When you read his comments in support of NCHDs, you’d think he was still President of the IMO. But he’s the Minister for Health now and he can fix this chaotic situation with the stroke of a pen but he won’t do it.”

Both the IMO and the HSE have agreed to meet on Wednesday to agree contingency plans for industrial action. The IMO said it will cooperate fully with providing emergency cover during any industrial action and that sufficient notice, within statutory limits, will be provided to the HSE to allow contingency arrangements to be put in place.

Key demands of the IMO NCHDs are:
1. An immediate end to shifts in excess of 24 hours in the first instance – this poses the most significant risk to patient safety and the welfare of NCHDs
2. Agreement for a planned move to compliance with the European Working Time Directive (EWHD) by the end of 2014

- Ends