Critical Illness Protocol

In the Irish public sector, if an employee is deemed to have a “critical illness”, the duration of sick pay can be extended under certain circumstances.

The employee should ordinarily be under the current or recent ongoing clinical care of a hospital consultant. The employee must have been deemed medically unfit for work by an occupational physician, and the medical condition must have at least one or more of the following characteristics-

Acute life threatening physical illness
Chronic progressive illness, with well-established potential to reduce life expectancy
Acute major physical trauma ordinarily requiring corrective acute operative surgical treatment
In-patient or day hospital care of 10 consecutive days or greater, 2 days or greater of inpatient care if pregnancy related illness

Where an individual does not meet the above medical criteria, provided that an occupational physician has found them medically unfit for work, management still have the discretion to award extended pay. In exercising this discretion, management have to establish that exceptional circumstances apply.

Employees who wish to avail of the Critical Illness Pay (CIP) Scheme must first apply to their HR section. If their HR section deem them eligible to apply, they are then referred to the CMO’s office to establish if the medical criteria are met. The final decision on granting CIP pay lies with the employer.