Fórsa announced last week that the union has informed the HSE that it is officially in a trade dispute over the outsourcing of recruitment services.

Fórsa delegates at last week’s Health and Welfare conference in Galway backed an emergency motion objecting to a proposal by the Minister of State at the Department of Health on the use of the National Treatment Purchase Fund for private psychological assessments and therapies.

Fórsa has said there needs to be a strong engagement with the HSE to ensure the detail of any 7-day work pattern arrangement is fully understood.

Fórsa has criticised the excessive use of external management consultants in public health settings, including hospitals, as media reports this week revealed that the HSE has spent at least €8.8m on private management consultants in the first three months of this year.

Fórsa is encouraging all healthcare workers involved in handling hazardous medicinal products (HMPs) to participate in a survey to understand the prevalence and level of awareness regarding safe handling and other preventive measures for HMPs.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has called for the national minimum wage to be increased in January 2024 by €2, making the hourly rate €13.30.