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Reilly welcomes LRC agreement with hospital consultants
Health Minister James Reilly today welcomed the agreement reached with hospital consultants and health service management at the Labour Relations Commission. The breakthrough, reached after intensive talks over the weekend, will allow for a series of major changes to the benefit of the health services and to the benefit of patients in particular.
The talks have provided for agreement on 24/7 rostering and consultants will be available for rostering for any five days out of seven as opposed to weekdays as is currently the case.
The agreement includes a range of productivity flexibilities, which allows for considerable advancements in the use of hospital beds. The value of these flexibilities is estimated to be approximately €200 million annually.
Minister Reilly has announced that henceforth the appointment of new consultants will be made at a new entry level pay rate, significantly reduced from the current starting level.
Not all issues have been the subject of an agreement reached at the LRC. Certain matters – including that of Historic Rest Days – will be referred to the Labour Court for adjudication
Speaking of the agreement reached, Minister Reilly thanked all those involved in the discussions at the LRC:
On behalf of myself and the Government, I wish to stress the importance of this agreement. The consultants organisations have shown considerable leadership in agreeing to recommend these crucial changes. The impact of what has been agreed has a vital financial benefit and of greater importance it paves the way for the more effective treatment of patients as we continue to reform our health services for the better in the interests of patients.
Read the full press release here.