Four ambulance workers whom the Health Service Executive stopped paying before Christmas after they took extended sick leave for work-related stress have been put back on the payroll, writes Ethne Donnellan.
The ambulance control centre staff, who work in Townsend Street, Dublin, are still on sick leave, but the HSE has, following talks with their union, put them back on the payroll and agreed to carry out a safety assessment on their working environment.
Ambulance controllers are entitled to a maximum of 12 weeks' sick leave a year, and the HSE stopped paying the four men once this period expired.
However, it was claimed last month that the HSE usually continues paying staff beyond this 12-week cut-off point if their illness is work-related.
The men claimed their illness was brought on by work-related stress, and this was certified by several doctors. HSE management did not accept this.
Siptu branch organiser Paul Bell said his members would co-operate with the risk assessment.
When the ambulance control centre was established in 1998 it was intended to bring the fire brigade and ambulance control together to provide an integrated service.