FOR THE ATTENTION OF ALL MEMBERS
Tuesday, December 11th, 2012
RE: Government announcement on proposed recruitment of 1,000 newly graduated nurses/midwives on two year contracts
Dear Member
The INMO wishes to advise all members that the Government announced this recruitment initiative, for 1,000 newly graduated nursing/midwifery posts, without any meaningful consultation or discussion.
The INMO has always supported the commencement of a graduate initiative, aimed at retaining new Irish graduates in this country, as a solid investment in the future of our healthcare system. However, today’s announcement by Government, on this potentially very good idea, has been tarnished and sullied by the proposed payment of 80% of the public sector pay rate for new graduates taking up the programme.
The simple conversion from employment through an agency to direct employment, while placing the new graduate on the minimum of the agreed public sector scale (already reduced by 10% for new entrants), would have saved the HSE over 54% per annum. However, this very significant saving was not sufficient and the government now appears intent upon imposing this 80% rate even though the new graduate, as a registered nurse/midwife, will carry the full duties and responsibilities of a registered and regulated health professional.
In response to today’s announcement the INMO will immediately take the following steps:
- The Organisation will continue to seek discussions with the HSE in order to address the shortcomings of today’s proposal;
- The Organisation will commence detailed discussions, with our new graduate members and our current 4th year undergraduates, in order to advise them of this development and agree an appropriate response to same; and,
- The Organisation’s Executive Council will meet, in special session, next Monday, December 17th to discuss this matter in detail and agree next steps.
The Organisation is also concerned, arising from today’s announcement, that members on existing panels, awaiting confirmation of their permanent posts, will access those posts without delay or any further prevarication.
It is imperative that this graduate programme, whatever its final form, does not interfere with the rights and entitlements of members already sitting on panels.
A further update on this matter will issue next week after the special Executive Council Meeting.
Thank you for your attention to this note.
Yours sincerely
Liam Doran
General Secretary
Attn: Agency Nurses Update here...