"We are supporting the cause, but not the means" - patients spokesperson

The Irish Patients Association says that it cannot support any strike action by any healthcare staff.

THE IRISH PATIENTS Association (IPA) has called on the Minister for Health to “take a leading role” to avert a strike by junior doctors.

Non Consultant Hospital Doctors (NCHDs) voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action and will down tools on 25 September.

Stephen McMahon of the IPA told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that while the association is supporting NCHDs, they could not support any strike in the health sector.

We’re backing the cause, but not the means. We cannot accept healthcare workers, no matter who they are or where they are going on strike. That means that patients are not used as pawns by any party.

We’re backing the cause, but not the means. We cannot accept healthcare workers, no matter who they are or where they are, going on strike.

“That means that patients are not used as pawns by any party.”

McMahon added that did not mean that they were advocating “carte blanche for the HSE to take advantage of the vulnerable position junior doctors find themselves in”.

It is expected that roughly 4,000 day patients and elective surgeries will be impacted by the strike, though the IMO will meet with the HSE to discuss how to minimise the impact.

Read: IMO to meet with HSE on how to protect patients during strike

Poll: Will you support Ireland’s junior doctors as they strike?

Making a difference

A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can make sure we can keep reliable, meaningful news open to everyone regardless of their ability to pay.

Support us Learn More