A strike by approximately 270 workers at Caredoc is causing significant disruption to out-of-hours GP services in the southeast of Ireland. Members of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) and SIPTU began industrial action today over a pay dispute, and further strikes are planned throughout the Christmas period.
Service Disruptions
Caredoc’s out-of-hours GP service and treatment centres are currently not operating, and will remain closed until 9am tomorrow. The affected areas include Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford, Wexford, south Tipperary, and south Wicklow. Caredoc has advised individuals with urgent medical needs to attend their local hospital emergency department or contact their own GP surgery.
The unions – representing 150 INMO members and 120 SIPTU members, including triage nurses, receptionists, and drivers – are seeking the implementation of a 2023 Workplace Relations Commission pay agreement for Section 39 organisations. This agreement would provide an 8% increase for workers at Caredoc.
The Core of the Dispute
The unions state that while the Health Service Executive (HSE) allocated €647,000 to Caredoc to fund a pay increase, this money has not yet been applied to members’ salaries. Caredoc, which is comprised of privately-owned charities and agencies contracted by the State, has stated that it remains committed to engaging with the HSE to reach a fair result and restore pay parity with HSE equivalents, as existed up to 2021.
Mediation between the HSE and Caredoc is currently underway in Dublin, but a resolution has not yet been reached. Caredoc has requested the unions suspend the strike on “humanitarian grounds.”
Further service interruptions are anticipated on Tuesday 23 December, Saturday 27 December, Monday 29 December, Tuesday 30 December and Friday 2 January. The strike action is expected to result in a loss of up to 10,000 hours of clinical consultations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What areas are affected by the strike?
The strike is impacting GP out-of-hours services in Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford, Wexford, south Tipperary and south Wicklow.
What should I do if I need urgent medical attention during the strike?
Caredoc advises that individuals with urgent medical needs should attend their local hospital emergency department or contact their own GP surgery for further advice. In an emergency, call 999.
Are all Caredoc services affected?
Caredoc’s out-of-hours GP service and treatment centres are not operating between 6pm today and 9am tomorrow. However, services in the northwest are not expected to be directly affected by this particular strike action.
As negotiations continue, will the planned strikes proceed as scheduled, or will a resolution be found to restore full service capacity?
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