HSE ‘factored in the cost’ of allowing doctors to work without rest, Oireachtas committee hears

Susan Clyne, chief executive of the Irish Medical Organisation, said the HSE has paid over €1 million in compensatory rest payments since an agreement came into force in January 2023. has “factored in the cost” of allowing doctors to work without rest by paying compensatory payments, an Oireachtas committee has heard.

“The HSE takes the financial hit, so rather than treat the hours as a priority and put in place the systems to allow doctors to take appropriate rest, the HSE has factored in the cost of allowing them to work without rest,” she said. Ms Clyne told committee members that HSE’s recruitment freeze, which has been in place for seven months, has resulted in an increase in unsafe and illegal working conditions with 83 per cent of NCHDs routinely working beyond 48 hours per week.

The IMO said 65 per cent of NCHDs reported being unable to avail of study leave for mandatory exams due to gaps in the rota despite being entitled to 10 days guaranteed study leave every six months. She said doctors receive multiple emails each day from headhunters abroad, while ads outside hospitals and bus stops aim to entice them to Australia.

However, as the population increases, Ms Clyne said the service is “running to stand still” without significant action.

Irish-Medical-Organisation University-Hospital-Limerick

Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

RTÉ being ‘held to ransom’ for taxpayer funding, Oireachtas committee hearsBroadcaster ‘starved of necessary funding for decades’, union representative tells politicians
Source: IrishTimes - 🏆 3. / 98 Read more »

Guaranteed Irish symbol comes with trust and history, Oireachtas hearing is toldChief executive says that it ‘does not mean that the product is made in Ireland’
Source: IrishTimes - 🏆 3. / 98 Read more »

Fair City actors feel like 'second class citizens', Oireachtas Committee toldAn Oireachtas Committee was told that Fair City actors feel like “second class citizens” and their show is an “easy target” when money needs to be saved
Source: IrishMirror - 🏆 4. / 98 Read more »

Health spending €500 million over budget in first four months of the year, Oireachtas committee hearsRobert Watt says about 75 per cent of budgetary overspend was in acute hospital sector
Source: IrishTimes - 🏆 3. / 98 Read more »

Costs of united Ireland would equal pain of the austerity years, economists tell OireachtasRecently published report estimated cost for unification at €20bn a year for 20 years but this figure is contested
Source: IrishTimes - 🏆 3. / 98 Read more »

Calls for GAA officials to face Oireachtas over paywalled gamesGAA officials should appear before the Oireachtas to discuss the high number of matches shown behind a paywall on GAAGO.
Source: NewstalkFM - 🏆 19. / 55 Read more »