Sirens silent, as is the Minister – Minister must intervene in ambulance service strike

• Outrageous that the HSE and Minister have allowed it to come to this — the HSE must come to the table with an offer.
• Minister must intervene to ensure continuity of services and engage with unions on their legitimate grievances.
• HSE must urgently address severe understaffing — 1,860 paramedics short of the 2022 workforce plan targets, including new 2026 service developments.

 

Labour Party Health Spokesperson Marie Sherlock TD has called on the Minister for Health to urgently intervene in the National Ambulance Service (NAS) strike involving SIPTU and Unite ambulance service workers.

Last week, Deputy Sherlock hosted NAS workers and union representatives in Leinster House. By that point, the Minister and the HSE had still not substantively engaged with unions in an effort to avert strike action.

Deputy Sherlock said:

“It is imperative that the Minister steps in now and works to end industrial action by NAS workers. The Minister is not merely a commentator in this dispute — she has a responsibility to both the public and NAS workers to address their concerns. The Minister and her Department must engage urgently to ensure continuity of service across the country and implement the recommendations of the independent Roles and Responsibilities Report.

“Our National Ambulance Service is creaking at the seams because of chronic understaffing.

“We know from figures provided to my office that staffing shortages are contributing to almost 40% of ambulances missing response time targets when responding to life-threatening cardiac or respiratory arrest calls. Ambulance crews are under severe strain and are being asked to provide increasingly complex care under growing pressure.

“The Independent Review of Roles and Responsibilities Report recommended, among other measures, updated salary scales to reflect the substantial changes in roles, responsibilities, and clinical skills now required of personnel delivering increasingly complex care. Yet those salary changes have still not been implemented.

“This is a fundamental question about how we value our ambulance service.

“We have exceptionally skilled ambulance service workers who work long and demanding hours and respond daily to life-or-death situations. We know they go above and beyond because there are simply not enough staff. Pay and conditions that properly reflect their work and skillset are a matter of dignity, respect, and retention.

“The HSE and the Minister must now come to the table, engage meaningfully with unions on their grievances, and urgently introduce an enhanced workforce plan to improve staffing levels in the National Ambulance Service.”