Leitrim out-of-hours GP services at risk as Caredoc appeals to unions

Caredoc has called on the INMO and SIPTU unions to suspend, on humanitarian grounds, their proposed strike action affecting out-of-hours GP services, which is due to take place this Thursday, December 18, and Monday, December 22.

The proposed strike action is set to impact services in North Leitrim, as well as Sligo, West Cavan, Donegal, the Southeast and South Wicklow.

The dispute arises from a breakdown in relations between the HSE and Caredoc, with the HSE claiming that Caredoc has failed to pass on pay increases to staff, despite having received funding from the HSE specifically for that purpose. The unpaid eight percent pay increase was agreed in 2023.

Caredoc provides an urgent out-of-hours GP service for patients with pressing medical needs.

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There are approximately 150 INMO members and 120 SIPTU members employed by Caredoc, including triage nurses, drivers for doctors and reception staff.

The planned 24-hour industrial action is scheduled to coincide with the busiest period of the year for Caredoc, which plays a crucial role in sustaining a frontline health service for thousands of patients.

In a statement, Caredoc said the current winter flu epidemic, which is expected to peak over the Christmas period, is proving particularly virulent this year, at a time when hospitals and GP services are already struggling to maintain adequate cover.

“Caredoc therefore calls on the unions involved to call off the 24 hour one-day strike actions scheduled for both 18 December and Monday 23 December, as such action will only make an already deteriorating situation even worse, and put patients at risk,” the statement read.

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Caredoc has also said it remains “committed to intensive engagement with the HSE and to arriving at a fair result.”