Conference to voice concern over health reforms

The trade union Impact is to hold a special conference tomorrow to express strong concern at how the Government's healthcare reform plans are being implemented by the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Department of Health.

Delegates from more than 30 of the union's branches will outline members' frustrations at what they describe as "service shortcomings, the slow pace of primary care reforms, chaotic change management processes, staff cutbacks and accelerating privatisation".

The union has already commenced a ballot on industrial action regarding staff cutbacks in some areas.

The conference comes at a time of heightened industrial relations tensions right across the health service.

Last month, the Irish Hospital Consultants Association passed a motion of no confidence in the board and management of the HSE.

Last Friday, unions representing more than 40,000 nurses voted overwhelmingly for industrial action as part of a growing campaign for improved pay and conditions.

The Irish Nurses Organisation and the Psychiatric Nurses Association have served a 21-day notice on the HSE. They are planning rolling work stoppages and the introduction of a work to rule. The nurses are seeking a 10 per cent pay rise, a 35-hour week and a special allowance for those working in Dublin.

Impact national secretary for health and welfare Kevin Callinan said there was growing anger among members at the handling by health service management of the reform process.

In late 2004 Impact negotiated a "framework" agreement with management which protected staff pay and conditions during the transition from the health board structure. The deal averted industrial action at the time which threatened to derail the Government's plans to establish the HSE.

However, Impact maintains that management has failed to involve staff properly in the major changes that have taken place to date and that this has led to confusion and damaged morale.

"Changes to administrative and management structures in health represent by far the biggest reform programme in the Irish public service since the foundation of the State and Impact members are the only staff group so far directly affected by the changes," the union said in a statement.

Impact is the Republic's largest public sector union and represents nearly 30,000 members in the HSE and in the health service generally.

Members include health professionals such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists, as well as social care professionals such as social workers and administrative and management grades.

Among the issues to be considered at the conference tomorrow are concerns that the HSE has displayed an undue reliance on external advisers.

The conference will consider claims that the HSE was established in a rushed fashion two years ago when structural and other arrangements were not in place, and since then has engaged in a constant process of changing structures and senior personnel.

Delegates will also be asked to deplore the "drive towards privatisation" and in particular the controversial policy of developing private hospitals on the campuses of public facilities.

The conference will also call for an end to employment restrictions "that involve every job to be filled being subjected to a bureaucratic, centrally controlled process".