Industrial action by perfusionists, who are members of the Fórsa trade union, has been suspended after an agreement was reach with the HSE on pay.
Perfusionists are cardiovascular specialists who manage the machines that temporarily take over the work of the heart and lungs during surgery.
Fórsa had accused the HSE of taking a unilateral decision to break a long-standing pay link between perfusionists and medical scientists, and of refusing to implement a Labour Court recommendation to restore the link.
The union said that perfusionists have suspended their industrial action after the HSE confirmed they will now be paid at the appropriate level.
“Fórsa welcomes the HSE’s confirmation that they will pay perfusionists at the correct grade, retrospective to January 2024,” said Fórsa official Ryan McKinney.
“As a result we have withdrawn industrial action and perfusionists will work as normal over the coming days,” Mr McKinney said.
The HSE said it welcomed Fórsa’s decision to suspend the planned industrial action.
“It is a positive development that will help avoid serious impacts to patients and the wider health services,” a spokesperson said.
“This follows confirmation last Friday from management that the perfusionists’ pay claim will be settled from 1 January 2024 and addressed in accordance with the Public Service Agreement 2024–2026,” the HSE added.
Strike action planned for tomorrow and Wednesday will no longer proceed.
The action would have seen 25 perfusionists across five hospitals engage in work stoppages which would have resulted in the cancellation of heart surgeries.
A 24-hour strike by perfusionists last month led to the cancellation of cardiac surgeries across five hospitals.
