NAS Industrial Action Begins Today: HSE Activates Contingency Plans

The HSE has a contingency plan in place to prioritise patient safety and minimise disruption for the public following the start of industrial action by SIPTU and Unite members in the National Ambulance Service (NAS).

SIPTU and Unite members are imposing a work-to-rule today, Monday 11 May 2026, with a 24-hour work stoppage to follow tomorrow, Tuesday 12 May 2026, as part of a set of rolling actions. The HSE has warned that during the rolling industrial actions, the capacity of the NAS to respond will be significantly impacted.

Any member of the public should contact 999 or 112 if someone is experiencing a life-threatening illness or injury. The 999 phone service is fully operational, and under the HSE's contingency plan, priority will be given to patients facing emergencies such as cardiac or respiratory arrest and those experiencing serious trauma such as that arising from road traffic accidents.

There will be delays in responding to non-life-threatening calls. The HSE has advised the public to consider all healthcare options, and if unsure on what to do, to call 999 or 112. Alternative healthcare options include:

Injury Units treat non-life-threatening injuries such as broken bones, dislocations, sprains, wounds, scalds, and minor burns. No appointment is required and patients can attend directly.

Community pharmacists provide expert advice and over-the-counter treatments for a wide range of minor illnesses.

If you urgently need to see a GP outside of regular opening hours, you should contact your local out-of-hours GP service.

Information about when to get help, organisations that provide mental health services, and types of specialist services is also available via the HSE.

All other health services are operating as normal. If there is any change to your planned care, you will be contacted.

The HSE has expressed regret at the decision of SIPTU and Unite to proceed with industrial action, stating that patient safety and minimising public disruption are the priority.

The HSE and State have engaged with the recognised trade unions representing NAS operational staff intensively over the past two years under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). A set of independently brokered proposals aimed at resolving the dispute, and all other matters in dispute including pay and service transformation, were agreed and recommended to their members by both SIPTU and Unite. In September 2025, both unions informed the HSE that the proposals, which were supported by a Labour Court Recommendation and recommended by both trade unions, had been rejected by their members.

The HSE remains firmly committed to addressing the current dispute through the process set out in the Public Service Agreement 2024–2026 and calls upon both SIPTU and Unite to withdraw the proposed industrial and strike action and engage through the State's industrial relations mechanisms.