SIPTU Nursing and Midwifery Sector Welcomes Government approval of additional supports for Student Nurses and Midwives

SIPTU’s Nursing and Midwifery Sector has today (December 13th 2022) welcomed an announcement from Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, that it is his intention to provide additional supports for student nurses and midwives to the value of €9m.

In November 2021, the Minister published the Longer-Term Review of Matters Relating to Student Nurses and Midwives (McHugh Report). The review, carried out by Mr. Seán McHugh, made a number of recommendations that would enhance the pay and conditions of student nurses and midwives. Today, Minister Donnelly announced government approval for funding the following, in line with the recommendations in the McHugh report:

1) An enhanced Travel and Subsistence Scheme for student nurses and midwives in years 1 to 3 of their studies will see each receive €500 per year as a targeted measure to contribute towards meeting the extra costs of meals associated with practice placements outside the student’s core placement site.
2) A new rate of €80 for overnight accommodation is being introduced, along with an increased weekly cap of €300, for those students who require accommodation away from their normal place of residence while attending practice placements. This weekly cap is three times the cap introduced on 1st January 2022, and almost six times the previous cap.
3) Student nurses and midwives can also avail of, on a vouched basis, the reasonable cost of uniform laundry services during periods of overnight accommodation.
4) Pay will be re-instated at 80% of first year staff nurse/midwife pay scale, for internship students.
5) Two additional uniforms for student nurses and midwives at the start of their internship.

Speaking after the announcement, SIPTU Sector Organiser, John McCamley said “The announcement of government approval for funding to implement these elements of the McHugh report is welcomed. It follows a long-fought campaign by our members to address some of the financial hardships faced by student nurses and midwives during their placements; and we are hopeful that it will go some way towards encouraging people into the profession.”

“The Union will now be engaging with the Department of Health to ensure that these measures will be implemented without delay, now funding has been approved.”

SIPTU says employment permits do not resolve retention issues of home care workers

A recent government announcement that 1,000 General Employment permits will be made available for home care workers from January 2023 will not address the core issues of recruitment and retention of carers in the home care sector, according to SIPTU Organiser, Pat Flannery.

He said: “SIPTU members have previously raised concerns following publication of the ‘Report of the Strategic Workforce Advisory Group on Home Carers and Nursing Home Healthcare Assistants’ in September 2022 that the recommendations did not go far enough to address the crisis of staffing within the sector.

“The announcement made on 30th November last by junior minister, Damien English, that work permits will be made available for home care workers from January 2023 shows a lack of imagination in how the Department intends to deal with the shortage of Health Care Assistants in the home care sector.

“Our members are concerned that the disparity in basic pay and in terms and conditions of employment will continue to exist between workers in public and private employments within the home care sector. As a consequence, workers will continue to vote with their feet and go to work in public employments.

“We note that Damien English has said that the permits being made available will be for full-time positions with a minimum salary of €27,000. A Health Care Support Assistant in the HSE can earn up to €38, 290 and has access to far more favourable terms and conditions of employment including premium payments, travel and mileage payments, as well as access to a pension scheme, which is not available to their private sector counterparts in many instances.

“SIPTU is calling on the minister to prioritise addressing poorer working conditions within the private home care sector and for the Union to be represented on the ‘Implementation Group for the Report of the Strategic Workforce Advisory Group’ which has been established by the Department of Health.”

SIPTU welcomes the establishment of Chief Health and Social Care Professional role in the Department of Health

SIPTU has welcomed news that the HSE has commenced an expressions of interest process to fill the newly created role of Chief Health and Social Care Professional in the Department of Health.

The news of the new role comes following a campaign by SIPTU for the role’s creation, so that there would be a focus on key issues faced by health and social care professionals (HSPCs) in the service.

The Chief HSCP Officer will report through the Assistant Secretary for Primary Care division. The Person will be initially based in the Strategic Workforce Planning Unit of the Department to support specialist policy development as a priority under the Sláintecare programme.
Some of the key functions of the Office will be to develop a Health and Social Care workforce planning strategy action plan; and to support the role of HSCPs to the maximum extent possible.

SIPTU Sector Organiser, John McCamley, said “Following engagement with relevant parties about this role over several years, we are welcoming the creation of the Chief Health and Social Care Professional. The input of health and social care professionals in the state funded health and social services is significant and requires specific policy input to support development of the professions in the context of Sláintecare.”

First meeting of National Radiation Therapist Review Group takes place

SIPTU have welcomed the first meeting of the National Radiation Therapist Review Group which took place today, December 1st.

This first meeting takes place at a crucial time for cancer treatment services. Radiation therapy is used in the treatment of around half of all cancer cases. This treatment is delivered by radiation therapists who, as part of a multi-disciplinary team, have the legal authority to carry out this role. SIPTU has continuously raised the crisis that exists in the recruitment and retention of radiation therapists; and the knock-on effect it is having in delayed treatment for patients. Currently there is approximately a 15% shortage of Radiation Therapists nationally.

Following the meeting Sector Organiser, John McCamley, said “The National Radiation Therapist Review Group will investigate and make recommendations on a range of matters which could alleviate the recruitment and retention crisis among radiation therapists. This will involve exploring areas around safe staffing, career progression, advanced practice, managerial structures and role development for the radiation therapist.”

It is hoped that the Review will contribute to the continued professionalisation of the service to the benefit of staff and patients.