Statement by the National Implementation Body Reduction in Nursing Hours : Phase One
On foot of its statement of 30th May last, the National Implementation Body (NIB) met with the Nursing Unions and HSE Management representatives to consider further the implementation of the reduction in nursing hours under Phase One of its statement of 15th May, 2007.
In that statement, the NIB recommended, in light of the positions of the parties, that an initial reduction must be implemented on a cost neutral basis and without diminution of service to patients, that a reduction of 1 hour 30 minutes be implemented with effect from 1st June, 2008 with pro-rata reductions for those working less than full time. The recommendation included provisions for local negotiation and independent validation by the Health Sector Performance Verification Group.
It is a matter of regret that the application of these arrangements has resulted in a failure to complete the process of negotiation and validation by the target date. This has meant, in particular, that there has not been sufficient time in many cases to pursue the necessary processes of clarification and review where problems have been identified.
The NIB is of the view that there is an onus on all of the parties, and their members and representatives, to engage positively and proactively to facilitate implementation of the recommendation which was accepted by the parties. In view of the urgency of the situation which has now arisen, the NIB recommends that an immediate review of the problems arising in locations where agreement has not yet been possible should be carried out. This should take place at national, regional or local level as appropriate and in particular should take the form of clarification of the nature and scale of the problem which exists in each such location, to be followed by intense engagement in a problem-solving manner at local level in the light of the clarification received. The identification of a basis for resolving such difficulties should take account of the parameters for change identified in the NIB proposals of 15th May 2007, especially with regard to rosters, skill mix and other productivity measures, as well as the measures agreed in locations where implementation of the working time reduction has been approved following validation.
The NIB recommends that these reviews should be completed by 13th June 2008 and a report on the overall position then arising should be submitted by the parties for consideration by the NIB.
The NIB will meet again to consider the situation on Tuesday 17th June 2008.
ENDS
5th June 2008