Consultant members of the Irish Medical Organisation have voted in favour of new proposals for work practice arrangements that emerged from talks at the Labour Relations Commission in September.
Some 88 per cent of members backed the proposals when votes were counted last night, the organisation said.
The changes in work practices involve introducing what management has described as “demonstrable changes in consultants’ attendance patterns, clinical and non-clinical work practices and reporting relationships”.
The changes provide significantly increased powers to clinical directors to roster consultants to maximise patient throughput and increase the presence of senior clinicians in hospitals across the day.
Some consultants will continue to work Monday to Friday, across a day running from 8am-8pm. Others will be rostered on any five of seven days, including weekends (one weekend in five).
