In a letter to the Health Service Executive (HSE) issued this week, national secretaries Ashley Connolly and Linda Kelly raised serious concerns that members are being asked to change their reporting relationships as part of agreements related to Integrated Service Delivery (ISD), when no such agreements have been reached.

As part of the transition to Sláintecare Fórsa has been involved in ongoing engagement with the HSE around restructuring, a key pillar of which is the establishment of six health regions and integrated healthcare areas.

First announced in 2019, the health regions were designed to devolve HSE decision-making and allow for regional planning, funding, and delivery of integrated health care services.

The Integrated Service Delivery model will outline how the health regions and the integrated healthcare areas will operate.

While the HSE have provided Fórsa with multiple operating models for national services, proposals for the ISD model not not been forthcoming.

In recent weeks members have been reporting to union reps that there have been attempts at senior regional management level to change reporting relationships. This appears to be concentrated amongst Grade 7, Grade 8 and Discipline Manager level, but may be more widespread.

Following the correspondence issuing to the HSE, a meeting took place on Wednesday 11th February about the proposed reporting relationships of senior clinical leaders. The HSE has now forwarded a proposal, and the relevant members will be consulted over the coming week. The HSE have not provided any proposals in respect of Grade 7 or Grade 8 staff.

As no agreements have yet been reached, the instruction issued to members remains in place and should be adhered to.

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