Written answers

Wednesday, 15 May 2013

Department of Health

Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors Working Conditions

Photo of Michelle MulherinMichelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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277. To ask the Minister for Health the measures he will take to tackle the issue of non consultant hospital doctors working excessive hours of between 60 to 65 hours and continuous shifts of 36 to 80 hours per week without adequate breaks or rest which can impair their health and their ability to work professionally and is causing many such doctors to leave the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23366/13]

Photo of James ReillyJames Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Government is committed to achieving compliance with the European Working Time Directive in respect of non-consultant hospital doctors (NCHDs) by 2014. I have emphasised to the HSE the high priority the Government and I attach to this issue, and also the need to address NCHDs working conditions more generally.

The Health Service Executive’s Service Plan for 2013 specifically recognises the need to address EWTD compliance as a priority, stating that there will be a particular focus in the acute hospital service on the achievement of compliance with the European Working Time Directive amongst the non-consultant hospital doctor workforce, in line with the Implementation Plan submitted to the Commission in 2012.

Key priorities for the HSE in 2013 are a reduction of average weekly hours worked and also a reduction in the duration of shifts undertaken. The Executive is bringing a strong and particular focus to the achievement of compliance with the Directive. New and demanding targets and timescales have been issued to hospital managers and clinical directors and progress on a site-by-site basis will be assessed against these. Measures the HSE has identified that will support NCHD retention include the protection of training time, the implementation of formal bleep policies and the transfer of tasks often inappropriately undertaken by NCHDs to more appropriate staff.

I am satisfied that the HSE is making every effort to improve the working hours of NCHDs and to implement other measures to improve their working conditions which will in turn facilitate the provision of improved and safer delivery of services to patients.

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