LAST UPDATE | 30 Mar

HEALTH UNIONS THAT were set to begin ‘work-to-rule’ industrial action from tomorrow have made the decision to suspend the action after talks with the HSE. 

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, Forsa, Connect, Unite, and the Medical Laboratory Scientists Association are the unions involved. 

The decision comes following 22 hours of engagement in the Workplace Relations Commission between the unions and the HSE regarding staffing concerns. The proposals aim to improve recruitment processes and workplace planning, as well as reviewing staff vacancies and accelerating recruitment to vacant posts.

CEO of the HSE, Bernard Gloster, said the body is “very pleased that the threat of disruption tomorrow has been lifted and our commitment to all of our workforce and all representative bodies is reflected in the agreement”.

Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said that patients can be assure that scheduled appointments will go ahead as planned and all health services will operate as usual tomorrow morning.

She issued her thanks to those involved in coming to an agreement, and said that it “ensures public safety and continued delivery of all essential services.”

INMO General Secretary, Phil Ní Sheaghdha said that the challenges around safe staffing have intensified for nurses, midwives, and other healthcare workers over the last year and a half.

“Nurses and midwives will now be balloted on the proposals. They will want to be assured by their employer that the delivery of safe staffing is an immediate priority.”

Unite’s Eoin Drummey of Unite said the union is satisfied that the proposals may bring about a resolution to the dispute, which will be subject to a ballot by Unite’s members. 

“Notwithstanding the significant challenges faced by our healthcare members through inadequate staffing and the over-reliance on agency and outsourcing,” he said.

The Psychiatric Nurses Association, which has begun separate work-to-rule action, said that although it welcomed the wider health sector’s standing down following talks, the PNA is continuing its industrial action.

It said that mental health services are continuing to experience disruption due to this.