The HSE spent half a billion on agency staff last year, I wonder how much hiring the necessary number of regular staff would cost? This is one in a long line of cuts going on at the moment, but gets publicity because of threatened action. No one seems to care that NCHDs around the country are not getting paid overtime, even for their rostered call hours. Working 70 hours per week and getting paid for 39.

I know Sean, it’s frustrating how ill informed people are regarding the nchd system, unfortunatey we can’t seem to get people to listen! What’s the mood from your class? Most people staying or getting ready to leave?

For me the pay is not the issue. It is the lack of respect afforded agency staff across the board. Our choice of employer taken away and our pay deducted unilaterally by the HSE. The agencies now include a clause in the new contract stating that they are not your employer or neither is any institution where you work. You are in essence self employed with no entitlements to social welfare,maternity benefit etc. I contacted Revenue Commisioner and also National Employee Rights Authority and was advised that though the agency pay tax and prsi the fact that they deny employer status warrants further investigation. Also i am fed up to the back teeth of being less worthy because i do agency work. I am a competent hard working professional who will work anywhere at anytime. Whatever else negative is written about the nursing/medical/auxillary professions working in health sector bear in mind that the people that malign us will eventually require our services and the way things are looking we may all be elsewhere.