Nurses in Drogheda threaten industrial action

Grave concerns at staffing shortages at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, where there are 103 vacant posts, has led to the threat of a work to rule by nurses.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) is also due to carry out a lunchtime protest on Monday from 1 to 1.30pm.
The INMO has also served notice of industrial action in the form of a work to rule to commence on Thursday.  However, further meetings are planned with management on Monday afternoon.
The INMO has said that it recognises management is now attempting to recruit into the vacant posts but, in the interim, all beds remain open despite the fact that there is insufficient staff on duty to provide safe and appropriate care.  
The nurses say one ward that should have 37 nurses on the roster is currently operating with only 20.  
INMO Industrial Relations Officer, Tony Fitzpatrick said: “Our members are taking this action in the interests of protecting the patients in their care.  It is foolhardy in the extreme for management to allow this situation to continue and it is now necessary to curtail services pending the recruitment of additional nurses. All research indicates that the quality of patient care is directly related to the number of registered nurses on duty.  If this number is diminished then patients suffer.”