The Government is expected to announce its commitment within the next 24 hours to the introduction of fairer hours for junior hospital doctors ahead of the deferred EU Directive on working time. A spokesman for the Hospital Services Employers' Agency confirmed last night that two key issues were being actively considered relating to the employment of non-consultant hospital doctors.
One was the the 48-hour target the full implementation of which was deferred for 13 years by the EU's Council of Ministers last month - an initiative backed by the Irish Government. It might be possible to reduce NCHD working hours ahead of the 13-year deadline, the spokesman said.
The second related to a manpower study on all aspect of hospital services. The result of this survey would have crucial implications on how the working hours of junior hospital doctors may be reduced, he said.
The study is examining in particular the career structures of hospital doctors with particular emphasis on the ratio of NCHDs to consultants.
Talks between the IMO, the HSEA and the Department of Health on alleviating the marathon hours burden of junior doctors are at an advanced stage, it emerged last night.