'Hire more docs to avert hospital chaos'

The HSE has been urged to appoint additional doctors from other European countries or to appoint temporary consultants to stave off a medical staffing crisis from July 1.

Hospital consultants have warned of a crisis in hospital services starting this summer as a result of a major shortage of junior doctors.

Junior doctors traditionally take up new hospital posts on July 1.

However, the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) has warned a number of factors have combined to reduce the likely number of juniors taking up posts this summer, and this could have serious effect on hospital service provision.

These factors , the IHCA says, include the HSE's reducing the number of training posts by 900, new visa restrictions imposed on non-EU doctors, and a reduction in junior doctor earnings under a new contract.

IHCA Assistant General Secretary Donal Duffy said there will be a severe decrease in the number of doctors in hospitals this summer, leading to a drastic reduction in services in areas such as anaesthesia and emergency medicine.

Another factor adding to the problem, the IHCA says, is the reduction in doctors' weekly working hours to 48 under an EU directive.

It says the shortage of junior doctor post has not been compsnsated for by an adequate number of additional consultants beiong created, as was promised under the new consultant contract.

Many juniors were, until recently, able to generate substantial earnings from overtime pay. However, changes in how overtime is calculated included in their new contract has led to a drop in earnings.

The new contract provides for a longer core working day, which reduces the potential for overtime pay.

The Government is seeking to introduce a similar system for other health workers under the Croke Park agreement.

Mr Duffy told irishhealth.com that junior doctor posts were now financially less attractive and many doctors were voting with their feet and seeking jobs abroad.

In addititon, he said, doctors would less intertested in applying for posts that did not have a proper training ../content.

Mr Duffy said in order to avert the crisis, the HSE should consider recruiting doctors from elsehere in Europe, with the appropriate language skills, to the Irish hospital system.

Another solution would be to hire temporary consultlants, pending the filling of additional permanent consultant posts, he added.

[Posted: Mon 17/05/2010]