Labour Court recommends keeping liver transplant nurses’ on-call arrangements

The Labour Court recommended that St Vincents University Hospital keep existing on-call arrangements for liver transplant service staff until call frequency is standardised with comparable theatre nursing grades. Once call-out frequency is standardised, the Court recommended implementing the hospital's proposals, with compensation for any resulting loss of earnings under the Public Sector Agreement formula. It also recommended reinstating the hospital's offer to protect existing above-national call-out rates. The Court made no recommendation on time off because the issue was under national discussion and should be handled through Public Sector Agreement procedures. INMO said the enhanced arrangements reflected the demands of the specialist service. The recommendation was signed on 2 August 2012.