Out-of-hours health services in the South East and North West are in grave danger of standstill due to strike action if the Minister for Health does not intervene quickly, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Pádraig Rice.
Deputy Rice said:
“Staff at Caredoc, a Section 39 healthcare provider operating in Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Wexford, Wicklow, Waterford and Sligo, are due to begin intermittent strike action from December 18th until early in the new year.
“The 150 INMO members and 120 SIPTU members are seeking the implementation of a 2023 Workplace Relations Commission pay agreement for Section 39 organisations, specifically an 8% increase in their pay.
“Two years on, it is unacceptable that this pay agreement has still not been implemented. This is money that these workers are owed.
“It should never have gotten to this point, but the government has let it go down to the wire and now must take urgent action to avert strike action.
“This is a vital out-of-hours service, particularly over the Christmas period – the health service is already struggling with the winter surge.
“Without this service, people will be left with no other option but to present in our overstretched hospitals – this potential loss of out-of-hours services during one of the busiest periods would have a huge impact on the counties served by Caredoc.
“A resolution must be found to prevent further chaos in our health service. Caredoc staff provide an invaluable service – they deserve alignment of pay and conditions with their counterparts in the HSE.”
December 12th, 2025