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Paramedics have begun a 24-hour strike that will last until 8am on Wednesday as the HSE have warned of potential delays – here’s everything you need to know and who will be affected
Ambulances at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin(Image: Collins Photo Agency)
Workers for the National Ambulance Services, including emergency medical technicians, paramedics, advanced paramedics, paramedic specialists and paramedic supervisors, are striking from 8am on Tuesday until 8am on Wednesday. Here’s everything you need to know.
- From 8am, pickets were placed at various ambulance dispatch centres across the country for a period of 24 hours.
- Last month, Unite and Siptu members voted in favour of industrial action due to what they refer to as management’s ongoing failure to implement the 2020 Roles and Responsibilities Review. The unions say qualifications, clinical responsibilities and operational duties of ambulance personnel have expanded significantly in recent years. They also say a 5% increase recommended under the benchmarking II process has not been delivered.
- It is the first of a series of strikes planned if the dispute is not resolved – with a 48-hour stoppage beginning on 19 May and a 72-hour stoppage on 26 May. Further action in June has also been proposed by SIPTU.
- The HSE has warned that the National Ambulance Service (NAS) will experience delays to responding to non-life-threatening calls and that service capacity will be “significantly impacted”. The 999 or 112 phone service will remain fully operational throughout the 24-hour stoppage.
- People have been urged to consider alternative healthcare options during the dispute such as injury units, GP surgeries, local pharmacies and mental health supports.
- Clinical Director of the NAS Professor Cathal O’Donnell said the today would be “very challenging” and that the people “who need us may experience very significant delays”.
- Unions have agreed contingency plans with the HSE to ensure that patient safety is prioritised during the dispute. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said paramedics have been left “with no option but to take action to secure long-overdue recognition and pay commensurate with their skills and expertise”.
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