Labour Court rejects union appeal over hospital doctor’s locum cover claim

The Labour Court rejected the Union’s appeal and upheld the Rights Commissioner’s recommendation on a doctor’s claim against University College Hospital Galway for locum cover and extra pay. The decision was dated 6 April 2009. The doctor, a Senior House Officer in the Urology Department at Galway University Hospital, said the rota became more onerous when colleagues took leave and locum cover was not provided. The hospital said it kept the rota at 1:4 during annual leave, provided cover when sick leave reduced it further, and paid for all hours worked. The Court found management acted within the 1997 agreement. It noted that cover was provided when the rota fell to 1:2 after a third doctor went on sick leave. The Union said the doctor had waived his compensation claim at the hearing.