In a ballot of 1,000 of the Irish Medical Organisation’s junior doctors yesterday, 97% of participants voted in favour of industrial action
The ballot follows ongoing concerns about the amount of hours junior doctors are being asked to work every week. In some cases, working hours are estimated to be more than double the legal EU limit of 48 hours a week. One junior doctor told Newstalk in August that she was forced to choose between food and sleep during a single 30-hour shift.
A group of IMO members will meet today to decide on a course for industrial action. The HSE will need to be given three weeks' notice of any strike action.
The Sunday Business Post's Health Correspondent Susan Mitchell and the IMO's Assistant Director of Industrial Relations Eric Young both spoke to Newstalk Breakfast about the potential of a junior doctors strike and its potential repercussions:
One of the major concerns about a strike by junior doctors is that it could have a serious impact on the services being provided at hospitals and other medical facilities around the country, potentially putting lives at risks as already strained resources are put under further pressure.
However, this has been countered by the assertion that current working conditions are already putting patients’ safety at risk. Fianna Fail's Health Spokesperson Billy Kelleher suggests “it is obviously not acceptable that we have people in our workforce who are working extraordinarily long hours that simply is something that certainly is causing difficulties for the individuals who are working with these conditions. And that's the most important thing, and they have already stated that it impacts on patient safety and on the safety of the junior doctors themselves."
Do you support the industrial action by junior doctors? Is a strike the appropriate response or do you feel alternate industrial action would be more effective? Vote in our poll and leave your comments below, and tune in to Newstalk Lunchtime today at 12:30 PM for more discussion on the topic.
