Ireland's doctors have taken an unprecedented vote to strike.
Ireland's doctors are expected to engage in industrial action at the start of 2020, following a a vote by the Irish Medical Organisation on Tuesday.
According to a statement issued by the body this evening, IMO Consultant and Non-Consultant Hospital Doctor (NCHD) members have voted in favour of industrial action by a margin of 94% to 6%.
The vote represents the first time in history that consultants and NCHDs have voted together for industrial action.
In an announcement, the organisation said: "This historic step comes because doctors can no longer tolerate the decimation of health services in Ireland, and the life-threatening effect this is having on patients throughout the country."
The IMO’s key demand is pay-related and the organisation argues that pay inequality in the sector is making it difficult to recruit consultants to Irish health services.
Dr. Matthew Sadlier, former President of the IMO and a member of its Consultants’ Committee, said: “We are deeply disappointed that the Government has forced doctors to take this action, but we have exhausted every other remaining option and all the while the state of our health service has steadily disintegrated under a Government that does not value the welfare of patients.
In a similar vein, Dr. Clive Kilgallen, Chairman of the IMO Consultants’ Committee, said: "We urgently need more doctors for better care. We already have the lowest number of specialists per capita in the EU and consultant staffing levels fall far below recommended ratios.
"It is outrageous that the Government has presided over this shortfall and is denying patients the care they need."
While there is no date set for the industrial action, the IMO expects the strike to take place in early next year.
Dr. Anthony O’Connor, a member of the IMO Consultants’ Committee, explained that industrial action would not take place over the busy Christmas period as patient care remains the top priority.
"However, in the meantime, we urge the Government to come to the table and engage with us so this action does not have to proceed and patients can be confident that the crisis in our health service is being addressed," he said.
