Operations cancelled as doctors work-to-rule

With no talks planned, and a similar protest still under way by accident and emergency nurses, the action is indefinite and threatens to spread across the country.

Patient groups expressed dismay at the protest, saying it would affect patient health, but also sympathised with doctors who have been ‘‘running around like headless chickens’’.

‘‘It is amazing to me that a strike should actually happen over what seems to be a relatively manageable issue,’’ said Dr Tony O’Sullivan of Patient Focus.

Dozens of people were contacted yesterday to be told their operations had been cancelled, the South Eastern Health Board said.

Junior doctors are refusing to write prescriptions and visit patients on the wards under the action which started at 9am.

However, emergency services will be provided and cover will continue in cancer, dialysis, labour ward, neo-natology, epidural and maternity services.

Meanwhile, doctors at Tullamore General Hospital, Co Offaly, will commence a three-day strike next Tuesday.

The dispute could spread to hospitals nationwide in the coming weeks if non-consultant hospital doctors vote for action in a ballot being conducted.

Kieran Mulvey, chief executive of the Labour Relations Commission (LRC), said he was willing to chair negotiations between the Irish Medical Organisation and the Health Service Employers Agency.

‘‘The services of the LRC and of the Labour Court are available to the parties,’’ he said.

But until there is a solution patients will suffer, warned Dr O’Sullivan.

‘‘Just because casualty will stay open and some chemotherapy will be administered to people that does not mean that nobody’s health will be at risk in this strike,’’ he said.

‘‘Sick people who are in a hospital bed who are not being looked after tend to get worse.’’

But he sympathised with the doctors, adding: ‘‘They are one of the most put-upon groups of employees in the health service and really they have been running around like headless chickens.’’