Dublin: Various healthcare worker organisations in Ireland, including the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) and FORSA, are advancing plans for strike action, citing unresolved issues with the Health Service Executive (HSE), most notably a critical shortage of staff. The decision to strike follows what employees describe as a failure by the HSE to address long-standing concerns, leaving many workers under intense pressure and jeopardising patient care.
Both INMO and FORSA have launched polls among their members to gauge support for the strike. These unions argue that staff shortages, particularly in areas such as cancer care, palliative care, paediatrics, and rehabilitation, have reached crisis levels. The Doctors’ Association of Ireland has similarly voiced concerns, stating that understaffing is an ongoing issue across the healthcare sector.
Persistent Staff Shortages Endangering Care
Despite public protests and repeated warnings from healthcare workers, the government and the HSE have been accused of ignoring the escalating staffing crisis. Union leaders, such as INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha, have condemned what they see as a lack of responsiveness, warning that both patient safety and the wellbeing of staff are at serious risk.
“The HSE is playing with the lives of patients and healthcare workers,” said Ní Sheaghdha. FORSA’s Head of Health and Welfare, Ashley Connolly, echoed these sentiments, stating that the government’s unofficial hiring freeze has exacerbated the problem and contributed to the current crisis.
Overworked and Underpaid
Nurses and other healthcare staff report being asked to work overtime without proper compensation, with management often urging them to work on holidays or extend their shifts to cover gaps left by unfilled positions. Despite this, many vacancies remain unaddressed, leading to burnout and frustration among the workforce.
HSE Response: Funding Increases, Staffing Expansion
The HSE has expressed regret over the strike preparations, pointing to substantial budget increases and planned staff expansions as evidence of the government’s commitment to addressing the healthcare system’s needs. A spokesperson for the HSE highlighted that the number of full-time employees is set to reach 129,000 by the end of 2024, with more funding allocated for additional hires in 2025. All six health regions have reportedly been assigned full-time staff, with the HSE arguing that strike action is unjustified given the resources being invested.
However, healthcare worker organisations argue that the current measures are insufficient to address the immediate staffing shortages, which continue to strain the system. They maintain that without urgent intervention, patient care will remain compromised, and the health of workers will be at risk.
The outcome of the union polls will determine whether the strike proceeds, but tensions between healthcare workers and the government appear unlikely to subside without meaningful action to resolve the crisis.
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