Sir, – We concur with the conclusion of our colleagues in obstetrics in the National Maternity Hospital (Dr Ryan et al, November 26th) that the media vilification of Dr Rhona Mahony was unfair, unwarranted and quite possibly gender-driven. We also contest many of the assertions made by Michael Anderson (November 28th).
Newly-appointed medical consultants have suffered a disproportionate attack on their terms and conditions of employment. No other group, including civil servants, have suffered a more than 55 per cent reduction in their salary as a result of austerity. If there is to be austerity, let the burden be applied proportionately across the board. Other groups such as nurses and teachers have also been subject to new-entrant type cuts. What many of these junior public-sector groups have in common is the female majority within their ranks. We note that new-entrant type cuts have not been applied elsewhere.
It is certainly indisputable that there is an exodus of both senior consultants and junior medical doctors from the country. Many of the destination countries offer significant flexibility for those who wish to devote more time to family and other commitments. This flexibility is not practically available in the Irish hospital system. These destination countries also do not have unequal terms and conditions of employment for those doing the same work.
What is certain is that these countries truly value medical professionals for the excellence and expertise that they bring to patient care. It is therefore becoming increasingly difficult to persuade our talented (more often than not female) colleagues to stay in Ireland and contribute to a system that seems inherently biased against them.
It is, however, Mr Anderson’s reference to JFKs famous words of “ask what you can do for your country” that we find most troubling. We and many of our NCHD colleagues have spent upwards of one decade working illegally long hours of 60-100 per week in a dysfunctional health system, for a rogue employer. We do this in the service of our patients and find the suggestion to the contrary insulting in the extreme. It is, we fear, yet another manifestation of the ongoing vilification of the medical profession in Ireland.
We look forward to a future where our best and brightest (and perhaps not so “privileged”) young doctors, who have contributed long years and hard graft, will achieve some level of esteem and an even playing field in Ireland. Until then we will continue to provide frontline medical care for our patients. – Yours, etc,
Dr CAROLINE LARKIN &
Dr GERARD O’CONNOR,
Co-chairs of the Trainee
Committee of the Forum of
Postgraduate Training
Bodies,
C/o Dundrum Road,
Dublin 14.