Staff at out-of-hours GP service Caredoc to go on strike tomorrow

STAFF AT OUT-OF-HOURS GP service Caredoc are set to go on strike tomorrow 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.

It’s understood CareDoc maintains that paying the staff would undermine a separate claim it’s making to be recognised as a Section 39 organisation, which are privately run though publicly funded.

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.

“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.

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Union statements

In a statement by the INMO today, 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 will begin at 8am on December 18th.

As well as tomorrow’s planned 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.

Tomorrow’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 tomorrow, 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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