Non-consultant hospital doctors (NCHDs) are “demoralised, frustrated and angry” and they are likely to undertake industrial action if long standing concerns about working conditions are not urgently addressed, the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) has warned.

It has launched a new campaign - #standingup4NCHDs – which aims to rally support for reform.

There are around 7,500 NCHDs currently working in the Irish hospital system. However, despite major changes to the demographic of the workforce and a heavy reliance on international doctors, the basic structure of NCHD training has not changed for decades.

Poor working conditions, including unsafe hours, and breaches of contract are routine. A survey by the IMO’s NCHD Committee has revealed that 96% of NCHDs have been required to work over 48 hours a week, many on multiple occasions, while 40% have been required to work over 24 hours in one shift.

However, NCHDs are often not paid for all the hours they have worked.

Meanwhile, 76% of hospitals do not provide suitable rest breaks, while 45% of NCHDs say their hospital does not provide suitable on-call facilities.

The survey also revealed that 91% of hospitals do not provide locum cover for absent NCHDs, forcing other NCHDs to be available as cover.

Some 50% have experienced difficulties availing of annual leave, while 91% have had difficulties availing of study leave. A further 40% have experienced difficulties accessing training support schemes.

The survey also looked at the impact this has had on NCHDs. It found that 91% feel they have little or no control over their work life, 78% feel they are at high risk of burnout and 70% are dissatisfied with their work-life balance.

Commenting on the need for reform, the chair of the IMO’s NCHD Committee, Dr John Cannon, said that industrial action, up to and including strike action, is likely if the HSE fails to urgently engage with NCHDs on these issues. He emphasised that while no doctor ever wants to go on strike, allowing the current situation to continue poses a major risk to patient safety.

“It is clear from our research that the HSE has little concern for the physical and mental wellbeing of NCHDs. It is an incredibly short-sighted attitude as we know that these working conditions pose significant risks to patient safety,” Dr Cannon insisted.

He also warned that this crisis is feeding directly into the shortage of consultants in health services.

“Patients are seen by doctors who are exhausted, stressed and under pressure. At a time when we struggle to recruit desperately needed consultants, we are driving away the next generation who we need to fill those roles in the coming years,” Dr Cannon said.

The IMO NCHD Committee is launching a ballot of members to seek approval for industrial action in the event that the HSE does not engage meaningfully to resolve this situation.