IMO campaign warns of NCHD flight

By Lloyd Mudiwa.

Government officials are set to receive thousands of ‘boarding passes’ — though not the kind associated with State junkets — which the IMO plans to deliver in a few weeks’ time.

The symbolic boarding passes will be signed by Irish NCHDs from across the world and posted as part of their drive to highlight the serious consequences for the Irish health service of the “intolerable decisions” taken by Dr James Reilly and the HSE to reduce salaries for new consultants.

The action, which will involve meeting with the junior doctors in their various hospitals, is designed to “make the point clearly that unless things change, there will be more NCHDs in our airports than in our hospitals”, said Shirley Coulter, IMO Assistant Director of Industrial Relations.

Already there has been “huge positive” interest from NCHDs, with requests for passes received from Irish doctors in training as far afield as Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Canada, and the US, who reportedly feel it is reflective of how they are feeling as they are now having to reconsider returning home.

Unless the Government reverses its decision, the NCHD shortage and long working hours will be “on schedule” with hospital waiting lists “delayed”, the IMO warned.

lloyd.mudiwa@imt.ie