SIPTU members in the National Ambulance Service (NAS) are balloting for industrial action in a dispute with management resulting from a failure to implement the recommendations of an independent report on updating staff salary scales in recognition of changes in their responsibilities and workload over the last 15 years.
SIPTU Ambulance Sector Organiser, John McCamley, said: “This dispute involves members working as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT), Paramedics, Advanced Paramedics, Paramedic Specialists and Paramedic Supervisors whose roles, responsibilities and necessary qualifications have changed significantly in recent years.
“These changes involve the service moving away from just a patient transport model to a higher degree of pre-hospital care. EMTs and Paramedics have increased their responsibility for administering various medications by 89% and 83%, respectively, since 2011. Operational practice guidelines for dealing with different incidents have increased dramatically over the years, including the need for additional training and qualifications.
“The Independent Review of Roles and Responsibilities report published in May 2020 was to address these ongoing changes, including updating salary scales. To date, its recommendations have yet to be implemented.
“SIPTU members working in the National Ambulance Service are highly trained and educated health professionals. They work in a largely autonomous and occasionally hazardous environment. Our members have to exercise clinical judgement, deliver complex and lifesaving care, including the administration of medications. They perform lifesaving interventions and make complex decisions about specific care pathways.
“All we are asking is that, like other health professionals, their training qualifications are respected and recognised in an appropriate grading and pay structure which takes account of the major workplace changes which have taken place over the last 15 years.”
He added: “Our members have been left with no other option but to ballot for industrial action, up to and including strike action, due to the length of time it has taken to rectify pay disparity between ambulance personnel and other health professionals. We call on the HSE and Department of Health to review their position of trying to force in additional workplace changes without addressing these historic issues.”