Healthcare unions to hold lunchtime protests as dispute with HSE and Department of Health continues

Trade unions representing workers in Ireland’s public health service are to stage a series of lunchtime protests starting today.

The unions said the protests – which are being held at Cork University Hospital and HSE headquarters, Dr Steevens’ Hospital Dublin at 12.30 PM – are being organised in response to the ongoing dispute between unions and the HSE and Department of Health concerning staffing.

The group of trade unions, which includes the INMO, Fórsa and SIPTU, has said continuing recruitment restrictions in the health sector is putting patient services under enormous strain.

The publication of the HSE’s pay and numbers strategy in July revealed that thousands of frontline positions have effectively abolished, affecting community health services, mental health and services to older people.

Unions said this is happening while the HSE and department’s actions are forcing hospitals and community services to spend more on expensive agency staff to fill gaps caused by unfilled posts, while continuing to spend significant chunks of public money on external management consultants.

Albert Murphy, INMO Director of Industrial Relations and chairperson of the ICTU Group of Healthcare unions said:

“Trade union members in the public health service will now mobilise in response to their employers’ lack of engagement of staffing.

“Despite the employer’s clear obligations, for consultation and engagement under the terms of the national agreement, unions are no closer to any form of meaningful engagement.

“The evidence is very clear, when our health services are not staffed correctly, patient safety suffers.

“Thousands of posts are now unfilled across the public service and the limited recruitment that can happen will be based on who shouts the loudest, rather than clinical need.

“The HSE and Department of Health have admitted that the moratorium allowed them to stand still financially but as unions representing those on the frontline, we know that there has been an enormous human cost in terms of staff morale and clinical risk.”

Ashley Connolly, Head of Health and Welfare with Fórsa said:

“Dysfunctional spending patterns continue to be a problem for the HSE, which is diverting funds to expensive agency and overtime costs, in addition to the profligate spending on external management consultants.

“This avoidable and wasteful spending does nothing for patient services.

“Forsa members are protesting today and will be balloting for action because they are fighting to protect services, fighting to improve them, and determined that the HSE and Department of Health will listen.”

Damian Ginley, Sector Organiser with Siptu’s Health Division added:

“It’s clear from interrogating the data that front line services are being negatively impacted by the Pay and Numbers Strategy.

“As a policy, it does not take account of the need to expand services to provide quality care, allow for the rollout of Sláintecare or our nation’s population growth.

“SIPTU members are protesting today as they are providing vital services; and know the negative impact the policy is having on patients and service users.”