MEDICAL scientists who were due to withdraw their services again this week, leaving doctors and hospitals without the facility to carry out tests for patients, have suspended their industrial action after an intervention by the Labour Court.
After widespread disruption and cancellation of medical procedures and tests to diagnose patients’ issues due to a one-day action last week, the scientists were due to escalate their action with further withdrawal of services for two days this week.
But the Medical Laboratory Scientists Association (MLSA) and the Department of Health have since accepted and intervention by the Labour Court inviting them to talks today.
As a result MLSA issued notice to all of its 2,100 members to suspend further industrial action and to resume work as normal across all hospital laboratories.
MLSA General Secretary Terry Casey said the Union will enter the Labour Court process in good faith and with commitment to resolving the severe recruitment and retention issues in the laboratory sector.
“The MLSA’s Executive Committee will remain focused on what is required to achieve a sustainable work structure for Medical Scientists, patients and the Irish health service,” he said.
The University of Limerick Hospitals Group, which cancelled a range of medical procedures during the two days of strikes, has welcomed the suspension of action.
A statement from the group said: “We are currently making every effort to reinstate as many procedures as possible in University Hospital Limerick, University Maternity Hospital Limerick, and Ennis, Nenagh, St John’s and Croom Orthopaedic Hospitals.
“Patients should follow the most recent communication they have received in relation to their appointment.
“All GP laboratory services will operate as normal today and we will work to reschedule at the earliest opportunity all patients who have been impacted as a result of the industrial action.”
