Fórsa has referred an ongoing dispute between clinical engineers and the HSE for conciliation under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).  

Fórsa members who work in clinical engineering roles are currently under instruction not to engage with HSE national officers or with regional HSE management on matters related to medical device regulation. 

Clinical engineers work across the health service carrying out duties that include service management, health technology assessment, regulatory compliance, risk management, education, and product development. Their work is at the intersection of health care and technology and is vital to the delivery of contemporary healthcare.  

The issue in dispute is related to the HSE’s plans for medical device regulation, which it has developed without consultation with the union. 

National secretary Linda Kelly said: “Despite the clear need for urgent engagement, it appears that the HSE are attempting to proceed unilaterally with their medical device regulation plans.  

“From agreeing terms of reference for the national medical device assessment committee without consultation; to advertising posts to support medical device regulation, the HSE has ignored workers every step of the way.” 

“There is no staff representative on the committee, and a draft medical device regulation operating model has been circulated by an external consultancy without any union input.” 

“This lack of meaningful engagement from the HSE towards its clinical engineering staff is appalling,” she continued.  

Fórsa has formally requested that recruitment campaigns related to medical device regulation be paused until the HSE has engaged in appropriate consultation.  

Linda concluded: “Our clinical engineering members are essential to the successful delivery of medical device regulation, which the HSE seems to be wilfully ignoring. Our members cannot be sidelined at this key strategic planning stage and will not accept the announcement of some fait accompli plan which does not address the core issues within the profession.” 

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