New entrant consultant contract proposals will fail to address consultant crisis according to the IHCA
New entrant consultant contract proposals will fail to address consultant crisis according to the IHCA
The IHCA has today said that new entrant hospital consultant contract proposals are discriminatory and are doomed to fail because they do not properly address the consultant recruitment crisis. Commenting on the recently revised proposals, Dr Gerard Crotty, President of the IHCA, said:
“These revised proposals are doomed to fail because they discriminate against highly-trained specialists who are in short supply and highly sought after in other English-speaking countries. In October 2012, the State singled out new entrant consultants for an additional 30% salary cut on top of the other disproportionate cuts that had been imposed on consultants at that time. The IHCA has consistently stated that nothing short of a full reversal of the 30% cut should be offered. The revised proposals do not restore parity and they will drive doctors in training to seek employment opportunities abroad.’’
“The proposals are yet another attempt by the State to breach the terms of the 2008 Consultant Contract. The IHCA, which represents over 85% of all hospital consultants, has not been consulted on these proposals therefore no meaningful discussion on new entrant consultant contracts can possibly take place while continually ignoring such a large representation.
“The Minister for Health has previously acknowledged that the 30% cut was a mistake and resulted in an increasing number of our highly-trained doctors and consultants leaving Ireland. There are now over 200 consultant vacancies in acute hospitals and mental health services which can only be part filled by more expensive temporary staff on an ad hoc basis. Patient care is being compromised and I urge the relevant bodies and the Minister to urgently reverse the 2012 cut in full to halt the growing exodus of doctors and hospital consultants leaving for other countries,” said Dr Crotty.
ENDS
For further information contact:
James Dunny, FleishmanHillard 086 388 3903