Caredoc is calling on INMO and SIPTU unions to suspend on humanitarian grounds, their proposed strike action on out-of-hours GP services in the southeast and northwest and south Wicklow, due to happen this Thursday and Friday.
This 24-hour industrial action coincides with the busiest time of the year for Caredoc, which plays a vital role in maintaining a frontline health service for thousands of patients.
The current winter flu epidemic, expected to peak over the Christmas period, is proving particularly virulent this year as hospitals and GP services already struggle to provide adequate cover.
Caredoc therefore calls on the unions involved to call off the 24 hour one-day strike actions scheduled for both 18 December and Monday 23 December, as such action will only make an already deteriorating situation even worse, and put patients at risk.
Unions seeking implementation of pay agreement
SIPTU and the INMO are seeking the implementation of the 2023 WRC pay agreement for Section 39 organisations, specifically the 8% increase due to members working in Caredoc.
Caredoc nurses provide a range of services around the country, including GP out-of-hours services, telephone triage and community intervention.
The HSE has confirmed to the trade unions that in May 2025 they provided €647,834 to Caredoc for the purpose of paying this increase to staff. The unions are seeking for this to be applied without delay. Thus far money paid by the HSE has not been applied to members’ salaries, and the unions state that this warrants a special inquiry into the funding model and fiscal responsibility.
Caredoc committed to intensive engagement
However, for its part, Caredoc said it 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, as was the case up to 2021.
Caredoc will continue to make every effort to ensure the minimum possible impact on patients and their families, from the current dispute.
About Caredoc
Caredoc is a not-for-profit fully integrated care service providing out-of-hours GP services and Community Intervention Team services in the Southeast and Northwest, and covering a population of 730,000 people approximately throughout Ireland. On average Caredoc manages more than 500,000 patients per year.
The effect of industrial action, or work stoppage to Caredoc will significantly curtail the GP Out of Hours services in the Southeast, Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford, South Wicklow and Northwest, Donegal, Sligo, West Cavan and Leitrim.
Caredoc services deal with approximately 30,000 patients during the Christmas period with the 27th December being the second busiest day of the year.
