A SERIES of one-day stoppages and pickets on the Department of Health in Dublin is likely after doctors voted to ballot for strike action. The 247 doctors, employed by health boards, are angry an agreement made more than two years ago to fill permanent posts has not been implemented.
According to the chairman of the IMO's public health doctor committee, Dr Fenton Howell, the most significant breach of the agreement is the failure to make more than 100 area medical officers permanent. They have been employed in a temporary capacity, some for up to 15 years.
On Friday, the Minister for Health, Mr Noonan, told the conference he would now be taking a personal interest in the dispute involving doctors who run vaccination clinics and monitor the health of the population. The Minister said he had organised a meeting between the Department officials, the IMO and the health boards to discuss the issues.
Dr Howell told the meeting of public health doctors that an official of the Department of Health has asked if the motion to the conference could be withdrawn "on the basis of the Minister saying something in his speech" but they had rejected the suggestion.
"Once the news of this motion got out the attitude has been a remarkably different one. But I believe we have to make the running on this one or we will be waiting another 2 1/2 years. All we have is a promise of a meeting but until I see the last area officer appointed I don't think we will take the foot off the pedal," said Dr Howell.
He said the dispute was not about money and if the agreement was implemented it would save the health services money.
Dr Declan Bedford, a public health doctor with the North Eastern Health Board, said a clear message had to go out from the meeting that we will take no more.
"We have been treated disgracefully. We have learnt we cannot trust the Department of Health. They have repeatedly reneged. This is not about pay but about principles and people's rights."