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SIPTU escalate campaign in opposition to the HSE’s Pay and Numbers Strategy
SIPTU will escalate the campaign in opposition to the HSE’s Pay and Number Strategy with further protests this week, highlighting member concerns that the policy will have a detrimental impact on services.
The protests come following demonstrations last week.
SIPTU Sector Organiser, Damian Ginley, said; “Our members have real concerns that services are suffering due to a lack of investment in key areas. As a union that represents a multitude of grades within the health service, we are seeing that certain areas are being left behind in terms of adequate staffing.”
“The HSE’s current policy on recruitment does not make sense, he continued. “Health service recruitment should be based on what is right and appropriate to be able to provide a safe service for our communities. That is why we are calling on the HSE to reverse its position with regards to recruitment.”
“We are also seeking a safe staffing framework for all grades and areas of the health service.” Mr Ginley concluded.
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SIPTU members protest the HSE’s Pay and Numbers Strategy
SIPTU members today held a demonstration calling for the HSE to end the recruitment embargo, as allowed for under the its Pay and Numbers Strategy.
The demonstrations took place outside Cork University Hospital and Dr. Steeven’s Hospital in Dublin, the HSE’s headquarters.
It comes after SIPTU addressed the Joint Oireachtas Health Committee on Wednesday morning, highlighting concerns about staffing deficits in care grades, support grades, radiation therapy, diagnostics and the National Ambulance Service.
SIPTU were joined at the demonstration by the INMO and Fórsa.
Protests are set to continue next week in a number of other locations.
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SIPTU welcomes that changes to ambulance services in South West will not proceed
SIPTU representatives have today (Thursday, 19th September) welcomed correspondence from management at the National Ambulance Service confirming that changes to rosters planned for the South West region will not be implemented.
SIPTU Sector Organiser, John McCamley, said: “The communication to SIPTU representatives confirms that a process of engagement to reach an agreement on the staffing of non-rostered days for National Ambulance Service staff in the South West region will be set up without delay.
“We welcome the decision of National Ambulance Service management to not implement the proposed roster changes next week. Our members had genuine concerns that the planned changes would have had a detrimental impact on the ambulance service in the region. The outlined process will give both parties a pathway to reaching an agreement on how non-rostered days will be staffed to the benefit of the communities our members serve.”
McCamley added: “The decision to allow for a process of engagement on this issue before implementing any changes results from our members’ determination to advocate for the service they work in.”
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SIPTU wants clarity on Minister for Health’s statement on ambulance cuts in South West
SIPTU has called on the management of the National Ambulance Service to clarify media reports that the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, has said that ambulance services in the South West region will not be reduced.
SIPTU Sector Organiser, John McCamley, said: “The decision of the management of the National Ambulance Service to withdraw the provision of cover for non-rostered working days will affect 15 shifts in 14 ambulance stations across the South West. This change is scheduled to occur next week as the National Ambulance Service claims it does not have the funding to continue staffing this cover.
“SIPTU representatives have asked for clarity regarding the Minister’s statement. Does it mean the Department of Health is providing extra funding to provide for these 15 ambulance shifts going forward? I believe SIPTU members, and the people of Cork and Kerry, have a right to know if their ambulance services are to be diminished from next week resulting in longer response times because additional funding will not be provided from the Department of Health.”
SIPTU Organiser, Rory Hawkins, said: “SIPTU calls on the National Ambulance Service as the employer to engage with this union as a matter of urgency. SIPTU members working in the National Ambulance Service want to provide quality service to the people of the South West but additional funding and staffing are required.”
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SIPTU endorses National Radiation Therapy report and calls for its implementation
The SIPTU Allied Health Professionals Sector Committee has voted to endorse the recently published National Radiation Therapist Review Final Report and called upon the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, to implement its recommendations on adequate staffing levels as a matter of urgency.
SIPTU Sector Organiser, John McCamley, said: “The SIPTU Allied Health Professionals Sector Committee represents health and social care professionals including Radiation Therapists. It had previously highlighted that 30% more Radiation Therapists are needed within our health services and the lack of these professionals is leading to increased delays in cancer treatments.
“This staffing crisis has led to at least four cancer treatment machines not being utilised. These machines could treat around thirty patients a day, meaning there may be as many as 120 cancer cases not being dealt with daily due to staffing deficits.
He added: “Radiation Therapists perform a crucial role within our health service. Almost half of the people with a cancer diagnosis will require radiation therapy as part of their treatment plan. This treatment is delivered by radiation therapists as part of a multi-disciplinary team. They are the only profession with the legal authority to deliver radiation therapy with services delivered by the HSE in Dublin, Cork and Galway.”
SIPTU Radiation Therapy Shop Steward and member of the SIPTU Allied Health Professionals Sector Committee, Clara Cremin, said: “We are calling on the Minister for Health and HSE to accept the findings of the Report and as a matter of urgency implement its recommendations to avert an all-out crisis in the State’s vital cancer services that so many depend on.”
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SIPTU call on National Ambulance Service to reverse proposed cuts in South West
SIPTU representatives have called on the management of the National Ambulance Service to reverse proposed cuts to overtime which could reduce the number of available ambulance crews in the South West.
SIPTU Sector Organiser, John McCamley, said: “National Ambulance Service management has proposed changes to overtime arrangements in the South West region, which are scheduled to come into effect on 23rd September. SIPTU representatives have grave concerns that the proposed changes could have a detrimental effect on services.
“The changes will likely result in longer response times as ambulance crews will have to travel greater distances if vehicles are no longer crewed in specific stations. Regrettably, National Ambulance Service management is making these fundamental changes to roster arrangements while also engaging with SIPTU representatives at the Workplace Relations Commission on the future of the ambulance service.”
He added: “SIPTU representatives will continue to argue that the ambulance service needs additional resources not cuts at this time.”
SIPTU Organiser, Rory Hawkins, said: “SIPTU representatives are calling on National Ambulance Service management to reverse these overtime changes and enter into meaningful dialogue on this issue with the Union. Our members want to provide a dependable quality service for the public but it needs to be safely staffed and supplied with the relevant resources. SIPTU representatives will begin a process of engagement with members this week regarding this unilateral decision by management.”
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SIPTU welcomes completion of National Radiation Therapist Review Report
SIPTU representatives have welcomed the completion of the National Radiation Therapist Review Report and called on the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, to accept its recommendations on adequate staffing levels for cancer services.
SIPTU Sector Organiser, John McCamley, said: “We have previously highlighted that our health services have a 30% shortage of Radiation Therapists and this is leading to increased delays in cancer treatments. This staffing crisis has led to at least four cancer treatment machines not being utilised. These machines could treat around thirty patients a day, meaning there may be as many as 120 cancer cases not being dealt with daily due to staffing deficits.
“Radiation Therapists perform a crucial role within our health service. Almost half of people with a cancer diagnosis will require radiation therapy as part of their treatment plan. This treatment is delivered by radiation therapists as part of a multi-disciplinary team and they are the only profession with the legal authority to deliver radiation therapy with services delivered by the HSE in Dublin, Cork and Galway.”
McCamley added: “If the recommendations contained in this report are implemented, it will help develop a safe staffing model for radiation therapy, increase the number of clinical specialists and put in place a pilot scheme to develop advanced practice models. The report also acknowledges the sizeable pay gap between Radiation Therapists and other health and social care professional grades. This is resulting in difficulties in attracting students to take up the study of radiation therapy.”
SIPTU Radiation Therapy Shop Steward, Clara Cremin, said: “We are calling on the Minister for Health and HSE to accept the findings of the report as soon as possible and implement its recommendations as a matter of urgency to avert an all-out crisis in the State’s vital cancer services that so many depend on.”
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New HSE recruitment policy means 2023 vacancies are now lost. Unions demand to know how funding for sanctioned posts was spent.
The ICTU group of healthcare unions representing staff in the HSE has said it remains concerned over the ability of the national health body to staff its services adequately, as the HSE’s latest staffing strategy shows that vacancies up to the end of 2023 have been effectively suppressed.
Unions have also raised questions with the HSE about how, in the absence of filling posts, funding for sanctioned posts was spent. Unions sought a meeting with the HSE following the announcement on Sunday (14th July) that it had lifted its ban on recruitment, which had been in place since October 2023.
In a statement following this morning’s meeting, speaking on behalf of the ICTU group, the INMO’s Albert Murphy said: “We immediately sought this meeting following correspondence from the HSE last week stating that strict controls would be placed on recruitment for the remainder of 2024.
“What has become clear is that there are still a significant number of vacant posts that went unfilled up the end of 2023.
“We were advised this morning that these posts will have to be considered in the context of the headcount for 2024. That is a complicated way of saying that these posts are effectively lost, he said.
Kevin Figgis of SIPTU added: “The question is now, were the posts that went unfilled in 2023 fully funded? And, if they were, where was that money spent?
“We believe the failure to fill these posts will continue to place severe pressure on healthcare workers to provide a safe service. The provision of timely and safe care is now an afterthought,” he said.
Unions have said they will reflect on this morning’s developments and revert back to management later in the week.
Fórsa’s Ashley Connolly added: “The inconsistency in its approach to human resources management doesn’t bode well for an employer, like the HSE, that’s hoping to persuade young workers to take up health service employment rather than leave the country.
“The HSE’s pay and numbers strategy (PNS) for 2024 has effectively guaranteed to loss of thousands of frontline positions. We know from our members that these will be vacancies in community health services, mental health, services to older people and is likely to affect disability services also.
“We remain concerned too for the additional pressure this will have on our members as they continue to try and deliver services in circumstances where vacant posts have been long suspended but now appear to be permanently suppressed,” she said.
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Recruitment of radiation therapists is crucial to the success of Ireland’s cancer strategy
SIPTU representatives have said that the recruitment and retention of radiation therapists must be central to improving cancer services. The statement was made as the Dáil prepares to debate a Sinn Féin motion this evening (Tuesday, 16th April) which calls for increased funding for the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026.
SIPTU Sector Organiser, John McCamley, said: “While there has been record investment in the health service, the HSE employment census shows that between December 2019 and February 2024, there has only been a 2% increase in the number of funded radiation therapists employed in the public healthcare system. That is an increase which is equal to only four full-time funded positions.
“That is even though the National Cancer Strategy 2017 – 2026 envisaged a significant increase in the need for oncology radiation services which are delivered by radiation therapists.
“Last month SIPTU reported that at least six machines used in the delivery of radiation therapy were lying unused in hospitals across the country. This included machines in St. Luke’s Oncology Network in Dublin, Cork University Hospital and Galway University Hospital. This is down to a lack of radiation therapists on staff to operate the machines.
He added: “SIPTU representatives have highlighted the need to address the staffing crisis through the progression of the radiation therapy review and the need for a comprehensive strategy for retaining experienced staff.
“We also want to see an expansion of undergraduate and postgraduate places to increase recruitment of radiation therapists as well as support for students during clinical placement. All these measures will assist in supporting staff in providing these vital services.”
