David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

There are a number of options to get where we want to get to. I know that a call has been put out for people voluntarily to take up rosters at weekends. Obviously, that is something people may or may not do. The Minister pointed to Waterford and other hospitals that have done this. The former manager of the hospital in Waterford is now head of community services and is trying to bring the same level of energy into those community services that was brought into addressing problems at University Hospital Waterford. Therefore, I get the logic and it is one I buy into.

However, we are then looking at a fundamental shift because as the Minister said, nurses and junior doctors have what are called five over seven contracts. It is not that people work seven days; they work five days but over a seven-day period and the rosters will reflect that. What are called five-seven contracts will be a new departure for some professionals, however. Is it the Minister's view that in those specialties he talked about in community services and other areas of the health system in hospitals, we are looking at five-seven contracts in future as opposed to five-five contracts?

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