CRUNCH TALKS between management and medical organisations on work practice changes for hospital consultants, to take place tomorrow, are likely to represent a final opportunity for a direct deal between the parties.
Minister for Health James Reilly is seeking greater flexibility from consultants as an alternative to further pay cuts as set out in the programme for government agreed last year between Fine Gael and Labour.
The chief executive of the Health Service Executive, Cathal Magee, described a four-hour meeting that took place last week between management and organisations representing consultants as “disappointing”.
He said progress in the talks had been slow.
Mr Magee said individual clinicians around the State were going way above their normal commitments but what was needed was to get their associations to come to the table and put in place alternative arrangements that could be introduced in a widespread manner across the system.
Highly placed HSE sources said at the weekend that if there was not a better engagement in talks with consultants tomorrow, management was likely to refer its reform proposals to the Labour Relations Commission.
Ultimately, if necessary, management could send them to the Labour Court for a binding ruling under the terms of the Croke Park agreement.
Management has sought “demonstrable” changes to work practices, attendance patterns and reporting relationships for hospital consultants in a document tabled about two months ago.
In its reform document, management also proposed a “significant reduction” in the amount of historic leave that can be taken by consultants.
It said several hundred were entitled to up to a full year of historic rest days and in many cases, in the year before retirement, senior doctors were opting to act as their own locum, thereby receiving two salaries.
The document said there should be a review of existing rosters and work schedules to ensure that there was a greater presence from consultants in geriatric medicine, general surgery, paediatrics and others in emergency departments.
