Cardiac surgery cancellations tomorrow due to strike

Cardiac surgeries in five hospitals will be cancelled tomorrow due to a planned strike by 25 perfusionists, who are members of the Fórsa trade union.

Perfusionists are cardiovascular specialists who manage the machines that temporarily take over the work of the heart and lungs during surgery.

Fórsa has accused the HSE of taking a unilateral decision to break a long-standing pay link between perfusionists and medical scientists.

The union also said that the HSE has refused to implement a Labour Court recommendation to restore that link, issued in January this year.

“It is simply unacceptable that the HSE would break this pay relationship in the first instance, and then that they would disregard a Labour Court recommendation is even more shocking,” said Fórsa National Secretary Linda Kelly.

The union has warned that if the dispute is not resolved, there will be a longer 48-hour strike next week on 16 and 17 June.

Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has said the HSE is continuing to engage with Fórsa trade union ahead of the planned strike action by perfusionists tomorrow.

Speaking at the official opening of an extension at Mallow General Hospital earlier today, Minister Carroll MacNeill also encouraged all parties to work towards finding a solution to the pay dispute.

She said: “We continue to engage, the HSE continues to engage with all of the unions.

“You will be aware, for example, a number of weeks ago there was a question in relation to ambulance services, where there was a strike, and the system, you know, wrapped around, and made sure that there were no events that day, thank goodness, and everybody contributed and supported all of the patient care that was necessary.

“We will take similar steps next week in respect of that issue. But the most important thing is always engagement, and with the ambulance service, I was very pleased with that issue that that did then go to the Labour Court and there was a Labour Court recommendation.

“We’re always there to engage, and it’s the same with [this issue],” the minister added.

Rob Regan is a lead perfusionist.

“Nationally all cardiac surgeries are going to be cancelled tomorrow, that is 14 patients including two paediatric cases in Crumlin,” Mr Regan said.

“It is the first time in the history of this country that cardiac surgery nationally is going to be cancelled because of the industrial relations actions of the HSE, the very organisation that is supposed to promote good health,” he added.

The five hospitals impacted are the Mater Hospital, St James’s Hospital, Children’s Health Ireland Crumlin, University Hospital Galway and Cork University Hospital.

The HSE said cardiac elective procedures have been deferred in these hospitals and will be rescheduled.

“Any patient that may have had a cardiac operation scheduled for tomorrow has been contacted,” a spokesperson said.

“Derogations have been put in place to manage any emergencies as they arise, in agreement with Fórsa,” they added.

The HSE said it remains firmly committed to continuing engagement with the union in respect of the Labour Court recommendation with a view to avoiding further industrial action.

Additional reporting Marc O’Driscoll