The VHIA survey to cost implementation of the new classification structures was due for completion and return last Friday. (See last Friday’s issue #772 for detail about this survey). We have been contacted by many members who are concerned that funding may not be available to their health service because the surveys were not returned by the closing date. It appears that very few services have in fact met this date.

For clarification, funding will not be withheld because of failure to meet last Friday’s time line which was a target rather than a cut off date.

We have contacted the VHIA asking them to clarify the situation to their members and set a new time line of mid January.

However we would reiterate our advice to members and particularly to job reps to maintain pressure on health services to get the surveys returned asap to ensure that we are able to legally secure classification entitlements through variation of the public sector agreement, as early as possible in the new year.