New proposals fail to prevent health service disruption

UP to 15,000 health board workers will stop co-operating with the Government’s plan to overhaul the ailing system from Monday.

IMPACT, the union representing the staff, considered new proposals from health employers yesterday but said they fell short of what was needed to resolve the dispute.

The union, which represents more than 25,000 health workers, is not opposed to the reforms but it is seeking safeguards on jobs, pay, working conditions and work locations when new health structures come into force on January 1.

Yesterday’s decision will block the implementation of the new administrative structures because IMPACT represents the health service managers and administrators charged with implementing and operating the changes, as well as thousands of health professionals and social care staff. Last week former IMPACT general secretary Phil Flynn was appointed by the Government to facilitate discussions between the two sides and this process is likely to continue over the coming days.

In a letter to the Health Service Executive (HSE) yesterday afternoon, IMPACT national secretary Kevin Callinan said health staff needed more detailed safeguards before the action could be called off, although he accepted it was not possible to address all the issues before January 1.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Mary Harney has announced she has appointed Liam Downey as chairperson of the HSE.

Mr Downey, who has served as a member of the interim HSE since its establishment, is the former chief executive of Becton Dickinson Ireland, a medical technology company. He is a member of the Labour Relations Commission.