The HSE has urged the departments of health and public expenditure to put measures in place to prioritise childcare and other arrangements to allow health workers do their job in the face of the Covid-19 crisis.

Fórsa and other unions met the HSE yesterday (Thursday) evening and stressed the need for supports to ensure health staff can continue to spearhead the State’s effort to tackle the crisis.

The HSE told them that political leaders supported this approach, and said unions should expect an update this morning (Friday).

Unions again urged the HSE to remove the reference to banning industrial action from its coronavirus guidance.

Earlier this week health minister Simon Harris described the Covid-19 response of health service unions as “amazing,” and said criticisms of unions for rejecting a ban on industrial action as unfair.

It’s believed that this could be resolved today (Friday).

At yesterday’s meeting, Fórsa also urged management to remove the clause in its advice that relates to outsourcing, saying it was irrelevant to any need for redeployment that may arise.

Fórsa’s head of health, Éamonn Donnelly, said attempts to ban industrial action outright were unnecessary. “Health staff and their unions are cooperating fully with the Covid-19 effort and a blanket ban on industrial action is totally unnecessary. There is no question of any industrial action impeding our ability to deal with the emergency,” he said.

Separately, the Government issued new guidance on civil and public service working arrangements yesterday (Thursday) evening on foot of its announcement of school closures and other radical measures to deal with the Covid-19 public health crisis.

The guidance says staff redeployment across the civil and public services could be required to ensure the maintenance of essential services, and also calls for the reassignment of staff within organisations to prioritise the most critical services.

It addresses the situation of staff with childcare difficulties caused by the closure of schools and crèches, and says employers should consider extending and staggering opening hours in response to this. It also reiterates existing advice on self-isolation.

Fórsa will continue to update members as developments unfold. Keep an eye on www.forsa.ie.

Read the DPER guidance HERE.

Read the latest HSE circular HERE.