CareDoc calls for suspension of industrial action in Waterford amidst 'busiest period'
The current winter flu epidemic is expected to peak over the Christmas period
Caredoc is calling on INMO and SIPTU unions to suspend their proposed strike action due to happen today and tomorrow in Waterford on humanitarian grounds.
The 24-hour industrial action coincides with the busiest time of the year for Caredoc.
The current winter flu epidemic, expected to peak over the Christmas period, is causing hospitals and GP services to struggle to provide adequate cover already.
Caredoc therefore calls on the unions involved to call off the strike actions scheduled for both today and Monday 23 December.
"Such action will only make an already deteriorating situation even worse, and put patients at risk," a spokesperson for CareDoc has said.
"Caredoc remains committed to intensive engagement with the HSE and to arriving at a fair result that can hopefully restore pay parity between all its staff members and HSE equivalents," the spokesperson added.
CareDoc services deal with approximately 30,000 patients during the Christmas period, with the 27th December being the second busiest day of the year.