MEDICAL STAFFING
The overall patient workload is obviously a difficulty. There are small
teams across all disciplines so if one doctor retires, resigns or is ill, the
service is under immediate pressure.
As of July 23, there will be only one substantive consultant left in Daisy
Hill.
Those who have left us all have highlighted excessive workload, limited
sub speciality support, pension taxation concerns and the availability of
better terms and conditions elsewhere.
They are also quoting, higher work life balance, on call rotas - which
are all more attractive in other organizations and other trusts. Also
quoting difficulty getting to Newry and the hospital estate less modern/
attractive than more recent buildings in other locations.
BMA Chair Tom Black commented recently on BBC radio interview that
the average salary for Consultants in Republic Of Ireland is twice that
offered in N.Ireland.
The other big issue is junior doctors as junior doctors need supervised
and requires doctors who are known as clinical supervisors. The lack of
medical staff increases concerns that trainees may not be allocated to
Daisy Hill Hospital from August of this year onwards.