Engagement between Fórsa and the HSE remains ongoing regarding the recent dispute involving Clinical Measurement Physiologists (CMPs). 

Planned industrial action in January was suspended to allow for engagement to take place at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). The issues in dispute include a stalled workforce review, resourcing of community hubs and outsourcing.  

The initial engagement period was due to take 6 weeks. While some progress has been made, last week the union expressed frustration at the slow pace of talks, and the lack of substantive outcomes to date. However, when the divisional dispute committee met, it approved a further three weeks of engagement, recognising that the ongoing discussions were meaningful.  

National secretary Linda Kelly said: “While talks are taking place, it is important that there is confidentiality to the process, to allow the parties to explore potential resolutions to the dispute. We believe it is important to keep this dialogue going in order to reach agreement on the issues in dispute.”   

Linda continued: “CMPs play a crucial role and carry significant responsibilities in diagnostic work, yet their job description is totally outdated and fails to take recent technological advances into account, so the resolution of this dispute remains pressing.” 

The union is also engaging with the HSE’s national HR team in relation to eligibility criteria and statutory regulation for CMPs.  Fórsa has raised concerns that it will be difficult to uphold eligibility criteria now that the HSE’s agreement with the clinical body for CMPs, the IICMP, has ceased, and has also reiterated its position that CMPs should be subject to statutory regulation by CORU. The Department of Health has told the union it does not intend to pursue statutory regulation of further health and social care professions until a policy framework on regulation has been established.  

Linda Kelly said: “Statutory regulation protects workers and patients. We are pushing for full union involvement in all discussions on regulation. On eligibility criteria, it is vital that the agreed terms are adhered to.”  

Fórsa represents over 350 CMPs working in the HSE and HSE-funded agencies. Clinical Measurement Physiologists carry out vital diagnostic work in both community and acute settings. There are five disciplines within the profession: Neurophysiology, Respiratory Physiology, Vascular Physiology, Cardiac Physiology and Gastrointestinal Physiology.  

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