The HSE has finally officially withdrawn HSE HR Circular 009/2014, which introduced new pay scales for NCHDs on Specialist Training programmes and which had been introduced with effect from July, 2014, which the IMO had said were unilaterally imposed.
The Minister for Health has defended the HSE’s policy of replacing agency doctors with NCHDs on longer-term contracts, adding that he thought the new contracts “will work”.
The HSE is expected to move immediately to advertise vacant consultant positions on new pay scales, following the acceptance by IMO consultants and NCHD members of revised proposals on pay and career structures for hospital consultants.
A total of €208,000 was spent employing 13 GPs to fill vacant NCHD hospital posts at Sligo General Hospital and University Hospital Galway in the year to the end of October, with new figures revealing hourly rates of pay across the country ranging from €29 to €110, IMT reports.
The IMO has referred to the Labour Relations Commission a reported breach of contract by the HSE over new specialist trainee salaries, which the union says were unilaterally imposed.
Dr Ruairi Hanley examines the urgent need to address consultant pay in order to address the current NCHD exodus, and the merits of a proposed pharmacy-based minor ailments scheme that would free up GPs and hospitals to focus on the patients who really need them.
Efforts by the HSE to correct bungled pay scales for NCHDs on streamlined specialist training schemes meant to reverse a €10,000 pay cut — first exposed by IMT — have failed for a second time, this time resulting in a €20,000 deduction, it has been claimed.
By Lloyd Mudiwa.
Irish Medical Times Medical News for Healthcare Professionals