‘Health service chaos’ if strike goes ahead

From the Galway City Tribune – There could be widespread chaos across the health services if a planned strike by medical scientists goes ahead.

Routine laboratory services will be withdrawn, affecting hospitals and GP services unless the stoppages, planned from May 18, are withdrawn in a lengthy dispute over pay and career development.

The strike would mean patients would be unable to access any diagnostic tests.

In a tweet by the chairperson of the Medical Laboratory Scientists Association announcing the dates of the industrial action, Kevin O’Boyle warned that healthcare would come to a standstill.

“No operations, no service to clinics or general practice, no care,” he predicted.

The dates for the planned strikes are for one day on Wednesday, May 18, then two days, Tuesday and Wednesday, May 24 and 25, followed by a three-day stoppage on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, May 31-June 2.

There will be little if any diagnostic testing on patient samples if the strikes go ahead.

The MLSA had served notice for industrial action on March 30 but suspended it after being invited to talks. It served notice on Wednesday after it claims not enough progress had been achieved.

“Due to the failure of the employer side to issue a proposal that the union could put to its members, the Executive Committee has voted to serve industrial action notice on the HSE and section 38 employers today,” said Mr O’Boyle.

“The MLSA has made every effort to avoid taking industrial action, because of the serious impact it will have on the health service and on patient care, and to protect benefits already held by members.

“However despite lengthy negotiations, it has not been possible to secure a mechanism to resolve our claim and  it is now clear that without industrial action we cannot achieve our longstanding goal and rightful expectation of parity with clinical biochemists, as recommended by the 2001 Expert Group  and accepted by the HSE and Department of Health.”

Representing more than 1,800 medical scientists employed across the healthcare service, they claim they are paid less than other clinical scientists.

The union said its door remained open to any meaningful approach or solution which could avert the action.