The profession is growing faster than at any other time in its history. We are seeing new community-based posts and the largest uplift in WTE in the history of Clinical Measurement Science.

We also welcome a new education provider in Sligo, the Atlantic Technological University (ATU). Formally Sligo IT, the ATU is the latest Technological University in the Republic that will host a brand-new training course in Clinical Measurement Science. This will be to the benefit of students in the West of Ireland and ultimately the people of Ireland as we have more professionals to take up jobs. A choice of education provider will hopefully deliver more graduates and hence more skilled Physiologists that will improve patients access to vital diagnostics. 

We need to support each other where we can by sharing experiences and solutions and to keep a watchful eye on how the new community services are implemented and managed. We need to make sure that for instance there are clear management structures in place and not accept peer-to-peer as a legitimate line management structure. It is a time for optimism but with any rapid expansion we need to be cautious of  unintended consequences. It is an opportunity too for FORSA to show us the benefit of union membership in action and demonstrate how they can support us during a time of rapid change.

Over the coming months I would encourage you all to promote the union and the benefits of membership to new and existing colleagues. There is strength in numbers and we can achieve more as a tight-knit block that stays connected and communicates across the disciplines. We are seeing a large increase in Respiratory and Cardiac posts and I do believe that in time the other disciplines will also benefit from the Integrated Care Programs as they evolve. In fact, we must insist that CMS Physiologists are at the forefront of all disease management programs such is the unique role we fulfil and the quality and impact of the work we do. We might be a small cohort in the wider HSCP family, but we are highly skilled and adaptable professionals that impact directly on the health and wellbeing of our patients.

There are challenging recruitment issues across all the disciplines. There is worrying reports of candidates being selected without equivalences or not even having sought equivalence.  The hospitals need to make sure that equivalents are sought (IICMS) and no shortcuts are taken that will undermine the profession and place patients at risk. We have a new graduate entry group in TU Dublin. They have spent their hard-earned money to enrol on the course (after already completing a degree) so that they can become CMS Physiologists. It is an honour that they have chosen our career. It is deeply unfair to them and all the other graduates that put four years of blood, sweat and tears into become a fully qualified Physiologist. No hospital should consider employing anyone without certainty that they are equivalently trained. Its unfair to all workers and unsafe for patients. We demand better.

We do need new members and in particular the younger career members to come aboard. We can benefit from their fresh perspective, energy, and enthusiasm. We have seen the power of grassroots activism in recent years with the success of the marriage equality referendum and the Repeal the 8^th movement. The success of these movements was in large part down to the efforts of young people that wanted to see change and a better way forward. We need to capture this energy in the new entrants and graduates and encourage their activism in the union or within the professional bodies, they (you) are the future. The best way to predict the future is to invent it. They should get active and share their vision and not let other people decide for them how their future work life or career will be.

I am very pleased to announce Donal O Dea (Cardiac Physiologist) as the new Chair of the Clinical Measurement Professional Group of FORSA. Donal has more than 20 years’ experience as a Physiologist and has been vice chair since 2019. He works in Tallaght hospital and recently in the community as part of a Slaintecare initiative. I wish Donal the best of luck.

I also want to thank Deirdre Whelan our group secretary. Deirdre is the backbone of the committee. I am most grateful for her wisdom, support and energy over the past years and recently with the challenges presented by COVID and the HSE data hack. She keeps going, she cares deeply about workers and workers rights and is a really great person and trade unionist. Thank you, Deirdre. I would also like to send a big thanks to all the committee members. They give their time freely and most generously. The meetings are always well attended even though we are all under huge work pressure. Thank you, keep up the good work.

All the best in 2022, here’s to a happy and health new year.