Public Health doctors will strike for three days in January after a vote by doctors in favour of industrial action, it has been confirmed.
On Thursday 14 January, a one-day strike will be held by Specialists in Public Health Medicine and SpRs in Public Health Medicine.
The following week, on Thursday 21 and Friday 22 January, a two-day strike will be held.
The confirmation comes after a meeting by the Public Health Committee of the IMO today to consider the vote by Public Health doctors in favour of industrial action.
Dr. Ina Kelly, Chair of the Public Health Committee of the IMO, said: “As a doctor who has committed my career to public health and the improvement of health outcomes for the population I am deeply distressed that it has come to this.
“It really is time for Government to step up to the plate and recognise their own ethical obligations and to honour agreements”.
Currently regardless of qualifications, no public health specialist is recognised as a consultant despite meeting the same criteria as all other consultants appointed in the health service.
The Committee decided to serve notice of Industrial Action on the HSE and the Department of Health saying that if there is no resolution to the issue the following action will commence.
