Out-of-hours GP service Caredoc blames HSE over industrial action

LAST UPDATE | 15 hrs ago

STAFF AT OUT-OF-HOURS GP service Caredoc are now on strike in the south-east amid a row over funding.

It comes at what’s typically the busiest time of the year for Caredoc, with flu numbers remaining high, and as people without a GP or whose regular GP is closed seek their assistance.

Two unions – the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) and Siptu – have claimed that Caredoc has failed to pass on an 8% pay increase to staff despite receiving funding from the HSE for this purpose earlier this year following talks.

In a statement today, Caredoc put blame on the HSE, accusing the Executive of leaving a “€3.2 million gap in funding required” for the service.

It called the HSE’s allocation of €647,000 earlier this year a “derisory” offer.

“Monies previously offered to Caredoc by the HSE were returned to them as it amounted to a partial payment for just one service in one area (the south east out of hours GP service) and would not have met pay requirements across the organisation as a whole, and were considered derisory,” a spokesperson for Caredoc told The Journal.

“Caredoc once again reiterates its support for its work force and continues to seek pay parity for its employees going back to 2021,” the spokesperson added.

Caredoc is not in a position to pay the 8% being sought by unions, because the HSE has not provided the requisite funding to pay this increase.

The spokesperson said that Caredoc has re-entered mediation discussions with the HSE today to try and address this shortfall.

The company is not be able to “take calls, provide nurse triage, or offer any support for GPs on duty such as receptionists, drivers or clinical nurses” during the industrial action.

“This will have a profoundly negative impact on patient waiting times and patient care, and increase pressure on hospital emergency departments and the national ambulance services at the busiest time of the year and as flu season peaks over Christmas,” the Caredoc spokesperson said.

HSE statement

Earlier, the HSE told The Journal that it had provided funding last March to a number of out-of-hours services around the country.

“In March 2025, under the auspices of the WRC, the HSE provided additional funding to Caredoc, Southdoc and Shannondoc to maintain a sustainable workforce. Southdoc and Shannondoc passed on these increases to staff without issue; Caredoc has not,” a spokesperson for the HSE said.

The HSE spokesperson added that the Government and HSE have “fully honoured” their commitments by allocating €647,000 was allocated to Caredoc South‑East.

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“The most straightforward resolution of the threatened strike action is for CareDoc to immediately pass this funding to its employees, as agreed,” the HSE said.

The HSE spokesperson said that the organisation has made a “further significant offer” to support resolution.

“Industrial action is unnecessary and premature given that the HSE is actively working to resolve the matter,” the spokesperson added.

Union statements

In a statement by the INMO yesterday, it said that industrial action will be going ahead this week, next week and over the Christmas period.

Industrial action taking place in the form of a 24-hour strike began at 8am this morning.

As well as today’s strike action, there are also plans for 24-hour strikes on 23 and 27 December, a 48-hour strike from 29 December, and a 24-hour strike on 2 January.

Today’s pickets will take place from 10am – 2pm at a range of locations across the south-east, including Carlow, Waterford, Wexford, Kilkenny and Clonmel in Co Tipperary.

While not affected today, CareDoc also has clinics in the north-west and counties Wicklow and Cavan.

INMO Industrial Relations Officer Gráinne Walsh urged CareDoc to provide a solution to avert the action.

“The action being taken by the INMO and SIPTU will cause disruption at one of the busiest times for out-of-hours services. It will also have knock on impacts on other out-of-hours services in the North-East,” Walsh said.

“Our members have no desire to withdraw their services in the middle of winter, but all other avenues have been exhausted.

“We are willing to meet with management and to consider an interim proposal that delivers the funds already provided, along with an agreed mechanism to resolve the outstanding matters. However, Caredoc must demonstrate a genuine willingness to engage.”

SIPTU Health Division Industrial Organiser, Ger McNally said that the union’s members have remained available to engage with management to find a resolution throughout this process.

“Unfortunately, in the absence of any meaningful proposal from management we are left with no alternative but to engage in the proposed industrial action,” McNally said.

“CareDoc management knows what is needed to resolve this dispute. We call on Caredoc and the HSE to use the remaining time to bring forward proposals that will resolve this dispute.”

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