Fórsa will propose that so-called ‘section 39’ agencies and their staff be brought under the remit of the HSE for the duration of the coronavirus crisis when unions meet HSE officials in a conference call today (Friday).
The union, which first made the proposal over three weeks ago, said the move would ease voluntary transfers of staff into essential health service areas. And it would underpin jobs in the sector by giving financial stability to agencies that are currently delivering reduced services because of Covid-related restrictions.
The union, which first made the proposal over three weeks ago, said the move would ease voluntary transfers of staff into essential health service areas.
The section 39 agencies are independent of the HSE, but receive public money to provide disability, homelessness, addiction and other services.
Fórsa’s head of health, Éamonn Donnelly, said the agencies should be treated in the same way as private hospitals, which have effectively been brought into the public health system for the time being.
These agencies and their staff need maximum stability in a time of crisis. They are also a source of capable, qualified and Garda-vetted staff, who have the necessary skills needed to hit the ground running in the coronavirus response in our communities.
“These agencies and their staff need maximum stability in a time of crisis. They are also a source of capable, qualified and Garda-vetted staff, who have the necessary skills needed to hit the ground running in the coronavirus response in our communities.
“Staff in the sector are telling me that they are ready to make a bigger contribution. They will respond if the HSE looks for their support, and the best way to facilitate this is to bring the Section 39s under the HSE umbrella for the duration of the crisis,” he said.
Staff in the sector are telling me that they are ready to make a bigger contribution. They will respond if the HSE looks for their support, and the best way to facilitate this is to bring the Section 39s under the HSE umbrella for the duration of the crisis.
Mr Donnelly said the financial uncertainty surrounding the sector meant some section 39 agencies were at risk of going under. “Thousands of vulnerable people depend on their services, and the liability would fall on an already overstretched HSE if any of them close or fail,” he said.
Fórsa and other unions in the sector have long maintained that section 39s provide public services, and that they and their staff should be treated in the same way as mainstream public service health agencies.