We want to bring your attention to the recent developments regarding the HSE and Department of Health’s 2024 Pay and Numbers Strategy that was published on 10/07/24.
Despite the delayed release of funding information critical for recruiting public health service workers, already six months into the year, the INMO, alongside other trade unions representing HSE workers, strongly objects to the lack of consultation with the trade union group and the foundational basis of this strategy. Specifically, we reject the HSE's decision to consider all unfilled posts as of 31st December 2023 as obsolete.
For nursing and midwifery roles, which require a minimum of six months to fill, this decision imposes a severe negative impact. Our calculations indicate that delays in processing derogations left 2,000 Whole-Time Equivalent (WTE) nursing and midwifery positions unfilled by the end of December 2023.
We believe this shortfall introduces an unacceptable level of risk for nursing and midwifery professionals, who are mandated to provide safe patient care. Consequently, we have informed the HSE that it is impossible to ensure safe care under these conditions and demand engagement on service curtailment. We plan to consult with our members following these engagements with the HSE.
Your INMO Executive Council is scheduled to meet on September 16th, but we may convene earlier to determine our next course of action. A national meeting for all INMO representatives is expected take place during the week of September 16th. Separate notifications will be sent to branch, section, and forum officers in the coming week to facilitate member requests for time to attend.
In the interim, if staffing levels are unsafe and vacancies remain unfilled, please coordinate with your INMO IR representative. You are not obliged to work in unsafe conditions or take on additional workloads due to unfilled vacancies. The current allocation of posts under the HSE's 2024 strategy is insufficient to maintain last year’s activity levels; thus, we cannot agree to any new services if existing service vacancies persist.