Sharon Keogan: CMPs Need Regulation - 40 Years Behind
Sharon Keogan addressed the Dáil about the chronic under-recognition of Clinical Measurement Physiologists (CMPs), calling attention to a lack of statutory regulation, absent protected titles, and decades-old workforce planning. She warned that HSE engagement has been fragmented and urgent action from the Government and the Minister for Health is required.
Who are CMPs?
Sharon Keogan outlines that Clinical Measurement Physiologists work across cardiology, neurophysiology, respiratory and other diagnostics. She describes them as highly skilled, safety-critical clinicians whose roles are central to patient care but remain largely unrecognised.
Keogan recounts that proposals to bring CMPs into a corollary regulatory framework have not been embraced by Government, leaving the profession unregulated and without protected titles. She notes FORSA entered an industrial relations process earlier this year and that a planned work-to-rule was suspended after intervention by the Workplace Relations Commission.
The speech highlights the failure of modern workforce planning for CMPs, pointing out the last meaningful review dates back to 1986 and the McHugh Report of 2010 called for updated workforce structures. Keogan argues the existing frameworks are badly out of date given today's diagnostic technology.
Keogan urges the Government to act, pressing for proper recognition, statutory regulation and modern workforce planning for CMPs. She asks that the Dáil raise the matter with the Minister for Health to secure an urgent and coherent response from the HSE.
Who are CMPs?
Sharon Keogan outlines that Clinical Measurement Physiologists work across cardiology, neurophysiology, respiratory and other diagnostics. She describes them as highly skilled, safety-critical clinicians whose roles are central to patient care but remain largely unrecognised.
Regulation and industrial relations
Keogan recounts that proposals to bring CMPs into a corollary regulatory framework have not been embraced by Government, leaving the profession unregulated and without protected titles. She notes FORSA entered an industrial relations process earlier this year and that a planned work-to-rule was suspended after intervention by the Workplace Relations Commission.
Workforce planning failures
The speech highlights the failure of modern workforce planning for CMPs, pointing out the last meaningful review dates back to 1986 and the McHugh Report of 2010 called for updated workforce structures. Keogan argues the existing frameworks are badly out of date given today's diagnostic technology.
What she asks of Government
Keogan urges the Government to act, pressing for proper recognition, statutory regulation and modern workforce planning for CMPs. She asks that the Dáil raise the matter with the Minister for Health to secure an urgent and coherent response from the HSE.
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Transcript
Thank you, and Cahirleach Leader, I wish to address the plight of Clinical Measurement Physiologists, or CMPs, highly skilled professionals working across cardiology, neurophysiology, respiratory and other diagnostics, who play a central role in patient care, yet remain chronically under-recognised. As far back as 2010, the McHugh Report highlighted the need for updated workforce structures for professions such as CMPs. More than a decade later, those issues remain largely unsolved, and the profession continues to operate within frameworks that are badly out-of-date. CMPs remain an unregulated profession. While proposals have repeatedly been made that CMPs should be brought within the corollary framework, the Government has totally failed to actively embrace those proposals. The result is that the highly specialised clinicians continue to work without statutory regulation, without protected professional titles, and without the assurance for patients that regulation is meant to provide. Consequently, CMPs, represented by FORSA, entered an industrial relations process earlier this year, with a planned work-to-rule strike suspended following intervention by the Workplace Relations Commission. However, engagement by the HSE has been lax, fragmented and lacking urgency, leaving serious concerns among the profession about whether their issues have been treated as seriously as they need to be. What is perhaps most extraordinary is the complete absence of modern workforce planning. The last meaningful workforce review affecting CMPs dates back to 1986. That is not a typo. It means that this highly technical, safety-critical profession is still being planned on the basis of assumptions made nearly 40 years ago, before many of today's diagnostic technology even existed. After years of service, CMPs still await proper recognition, regulation and workforce planning for their essential role. I urge the Government to take action on this. Maybe you could raise that matter with the Minister for Health for me, please.