Labour Court recommends independent review of HSE forensic nurses’ call-out rates

The Labour Court recommended an independent evaluation of on-call and call-out rates for forensic nurses and midwives employed by the Health Service Executive. The recommendation was signed on 8 March 2011. The Court said the claim could proceed under the Public Service Agreement because it concerned rates for a new service, rather than an increase to established rates. The Irish Nurses’ and Midwives’ Organisation said the nurses’ work was comparable to that of forensic medical examiners and sought equivalent rates. The HSE argued that higher rates could increase nursing costs without adding value. The Court recommended that the parties seek an independent evaluation of the skills and responsibilities involved and consider its results; if they could not agree, the matter could return to the Court for a definitive recommendation.