Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the delegates for their attendance but as the previous speaker noted, the two reports are very different. It appears, from members' beliefs or what they have heard in recent years, that a lot of non-consultant hospital doctors, NCHDs, are working a highly dangerous and illegal number of hours. While health and safety are very important in all aspects of life, they appear to be disregarded to a great extent within the health service. I will repeat the question I asked earlier: if I was a patient and thought someone had worked for 48 or 72 hours without leaving the hospital, would I have confidence in him or her in carrying out a procedure on me? I would not. It appears as though rosters are a huge issue and could be improved a lot, even with a little consultation with non-consultant hospital doctors. It also appears as though career paths are better laid out in other countries than the manner in which they are structured here. Is it true there that are not enough medical places for interns this summer?