The HSE has agreed to resume discussions over interim community health organisation (CHO) governance structures at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), in a process expected to begin early next month. As a result, Fórsa has suspended its instruction that members should cease cooperation with reporting arrangements in interim CHO governance structures.

Fórsa’s July decision to withdraw cooperation from interim arrangements was provoked when health employers’ collapsed discussions on the roll-out of the CHO programme in advance of the full implementation of the ten-year Sláintecare reform programme. But, in response to pressure from union members, the HSE has now made a commitment to resume discussions with the help of the WRC.

The head of Fórsa’s health division, Éamonn Donnelly, said members should now resume cooperation with interim measures, including reporting, with immediate effect. But he warned that the union would ballot for industrial action if the employers did not approach the WRC discussions in a serious and meaningful way.

“The resumption of talks represents enough progress to resume cooperation with interim measures while our discussions play out. This would not have been possible without the determination shown by Fórsa members after the union issued its instruction last month.

“Now the employers must show that they’re serious about developing high quality community health services, with the structures necessary to make the new system a success. This means placing the health and social care professions at the centre of service planning and delivery, with admin staff as a vital cog in the support structures” he said.