19/09/2024 Comments are off SIPTU Health Admin
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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.”

19/09/2024 Comments are off SIPTU Health Admin
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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.”

17/09/2024 Comments are off SIPTU Health Admin
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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.”

24/04/2023 Comments are off SIPTU Health Admin
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SIPTU members in the National Ambulance Service begin ballot for strike action

SIPTU members in the National Ambulance Service (NAS) have begun a ballot for strike action in a dispute regarding the failure of the HSE to fully implement a series of reforms which would benefit this vital public service.

The series of proposed reforms are contained in the Roles and Responsibilities Report for NAS, which was commissioned by NAS management, SIPTU and the HSE. It’s recommendations include the introduction of new grades of staff, new job descriptions and the upskilling of existing staff.

SIPTU Sector Organiser, Ted Kenny, said: “This report provides for a proposed new structure for the service, which includes revised pay scales for our members. Following months of intensive, local engagement on this issue with NAS management our representatives are deeply concerned that it is yet to be implemented.

“Our members have fully co-operated with the plan drawn up by management to develop the service and they expect commitments concerning new grades and pay scales which were made to them to be met. Our members will not accept any deviation from the reality that it is management’s function to secure the necessary funding to deliver the agreed vision for the service. This includes any payments arising to staff as part of their overall restructuring plan.”

He added: “SIPTU is of the view that the business case for the implementation of this report is outside the terms of the Building Momentum Public Service Agreement. We do not accept the premise that delivery of the service level aspects of the plan are permitted yet the commitments to staff in return are deemed to be a cost increasing claim. It is the function of management to secure the necessary funding to deliver the commitments it has made.”

The ballot for strike action will conclude on Thursday 4th May 2023.

28/02/2023 Comments are off SIPTU Health Admin
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SIPTU calls for action on ambulance staffing crisis to be highlighted in Dáil debates

SIPTU members have called for urgent action to be taken on the worsening staffing crisis in the National Ambulance Service (NAS) which will be debated in the Dáil today (Tuesday, 28th February) and tomorrow (Wednesday, 1st March).

SIPTU Sector Organiser, Ted Kenny, said: “The worsening resourcing and staffing crisis in the NAS will be the subject of debate in the Dáil over the next two days. This is a positive development and will hopefully force the Government to finally take decisive action to end a crisis which is threatening the effective delivery of public healthcare across the country.

“Sinn Féin have today presented a motion on the funding and resourcing of the NAS and the Regional Group of TDs have also tabled a motion in relation to the future of regional pre-emergency care which is scheduled for debate tomorrow. Both motions highlight the significant staffing and resourcing issues that are affecting the service and our members who work within it.”

He added: “Any political pressure that can be applied to demonstrate the importance of the service and the hard work of our members, is to be welcomed. However, action and investment are also required in order to secure the future of this service. An appropriate first step, in our view, would be the implementation of the independent review of Roles and Responsibilities at the NAS which dates back to 2018. Our members and the HSE management have both called for its immediate implementation in order to assist in alleviating the crisis in ambulance services.”

22/02/2023 Comments are off SIPTU Health Admin
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SIPTU renews calls for Minister to intervene in ambulance service staffing crisis

SIPTU members in the National Ambulance Service (NAS) have renewed their call for the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, to directly intervene to ensure the recommendations of an independent review are implemented as part of a solution to a worsening staffing crisis in the service.

SIPTU Sector Organiser, Ted Kenny, said: “At the Joint Oireachtas Health Committee today (Wednesday, 22ndFebruary), NAS senior management backed the view of our union that implementing the recommendations of the Independent Review of Roles and Responsibilities in the NAS would help alleviate a worsening recruitment and retention crisis in the service.

“NAS management confirmed it is supportive of the implementation of the recommendations but that the issue currently lies with the Department of Health. We are renewing our call for the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, to intervene to ensure their implementation.

“The Independent Review of Roles and Responsibilities Report was jointly commissioned by the NAS, SIPTU and the HSE in 2018. The report made several recommendations to address recruitment and retention issues within the service, to identify career pathways for staff and to update the roles and responsibilities of all grades within the service.”

He added: “An appropriately funded, supported and fully staffed NAS would be of huge benefit to the public and assist our members in their role of providing emergency care in our communities.”

11/01/2023 Comments are off SIPTU Health Admin
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SIPTU’s Ambulance Sector Expresses Solidarity with striking NHS ambulance crews

SIPTU’s Ambulance Sector has expressed solidary with NHS ambulance crews who are on strike today (January 11th) in the United Kingdom after talks failed to address GMB members’ concerns regarding pay.

SIPTU’s Sector Organiser for the Ambulance Sector, Ted Kenny, wrote to GMB Union Public Services National Secretary, Rachel Harrison, to advise that “we stand beside you all in your fight for an enhanced pay offer and wish you all the very best in achieving that goal.”

The letter follows a statement made by SIPTU on the challenges being faced by ambulance crews throughout the National Ambulance Service on Saturday the 7th of January. You can read that full statement here.

08/01/2023 Comments are off SIPTU Health Admin
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SIPTU says National Ambulance Service crisis has paramedics at ‘breaking point’

SIPTU representatives have raised concerns about the challenges facing its members employed in the National Ambulance Service (NAS) due to an increase in demand for its services that has pushed many paramedics to “breaking point”.

SIPTU Sector Organiser, Ted Kenny, said: “The upsurge in demand on the NAS is pushing many of its paramedics to breaking point. The increased numbers attending Accident and Emergency Departments across the country has severely impacted turn-around times, with crews having to wait hours on end to hand over their patients.

“Some paramedics have reported working several hours beyond the end of their 12-hour shifts which is leading to burnout. In addition to this, they are now being requested to work additional hours to assist with the current upsurge of activity being reported across the health service.

“SIPTU representatives have been engaging with the management of the NAS on a number of outstanding issues at the organisation including the implementation of an Independent Review of Roles and Responsibilities Report, staffing concerns and the appropriate funding of the service.

“The NAS has been under funded for years and needs at least an extra 2000 staff along with 120 new ambulances to provide the level of service that is now needed.

“The Independent Review of Roles and Responsibilities Report was jointly commissioned by the NAS, SIPTU and the HSE in 2018. The report made several recommendations to address recruitment and retention issues within the service, to identify career pathways for staff and to update the roles and responsibilities of all grades within the service. To date, the recommendations of the report has not been implemented.”

He added: “An appropriately staffed and funded NAS that can retain its dedicated workforce, would be of huge benefit to the communities it serves as well as the acute hospital sector which has seen a huge increase in activity in recent weeks.

“We are calling on the Minister of Health, Stephen Donnelly, to intervene to ensure the recommendations of the Independent Review of Roles and Responsibilities Report are implemented as a matter of urgency.”

04/12/2019 Comments are off SIPTU Health
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Inquest highlights the urgent need for emergency ambulance hand-over protocol

SIPTU representatives have tonight (Wednesday 4th December) demanded the introduction of an emergency hand-over protocol to assist ambulance crews who are unable to hand over patients to hospital staff due to overcrowding and lack of bed capacity.

The call comes as the Medical Director of the National Ambulance Service, Professor Cathal O’Donnell, told an inquest into the death of Margaret Callaghan today that the issue of ambulance hand-over delay is “endemic” and it is getting worse.

SIPTU Health Division Organiser, Paul Bell said: “Our members have again expressed their deep concerns that the overcrowding crisis is obstructing them from doing their jobs effectively and they have demanded that an emergency handover protocol is put in place immediately to deal with it. We have an unacceptable situation where ambulance professionals and very expensive equipment is being held up for hours while other patients need immediate care. This is not sustainable and the Minister for Health needs to get involved before more lives are tragically lost. We need an immediate contingency plan to deal with this once and for all.”

He added: “We also need to see a dramatic increase in bed capacity to alleviate overcrowding and trolley pressure and to assist our members in the National Ambulance Service in the hand-over of patients.”

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