In August we launched a petition calling on the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly to intervene in the HSE decision to exclude Health and Social Care Professionals from the Senior Management Team in the new HSE Health Regions. Over 8000 of you have signed the petition. 

The new Health Region structure will come into force on Tuesday 1st October 2024. The exclusion of HSCPs from senior management will have a real and significant negative impact on the development of frontline Health and Social Care Profession services within each region for years to come. 

Speaking about the decision to exclude HSCPs from senior management structure, Fórsa national secretary Linda Kelly said: “For months the HSE gave us no satisfactory response when we asked why HSCPS, the second largest clinical group, have been ignored and excluded."

“Now, just this week, we have learned that they think including all disciplines “would not be conducive to a high performing function”. 

Linda continued: “How would including the second largest clinical group somehow lessen the performance of the team? Why would hearing from those providing critically important services make things worse? It’s quite simply outrageous. HSCPs deliver vital patient care and deserve respect and recognition.” 

Next week our colleagues in other unions will also share the petition with their members, a welcome move which will build further support. If you don’t agree with the HSE decision to exclude HSCPs, please sign this petition and share across all your networks. The more signatures we have the louder our message to the Minister will be. The petition is open to all. 

Join a union that wins. Join Fórsa.