Chronic overcrowing sees INMO plan ballot of Emergency Departments staff

The Executive Council of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has decided, at a meeting today, to commence a nationwide ballot, of all of its members working in Emergency Departments.

This is to seek a mandate for industrial action, up to and including the withdrawal of labour, in protest at the persistent, and deepening, levels of overcrowding in ED Departments across the country. Such a level of overcrowding and understaffing is posing significant risks for the health and safety of nurses working in those departments. 

A spokesperson said that this ballot, following consultation with members in ED Departments across the country, is being commenced against the background of record levels of overcrowding, in Emergency Departments, and what they allege is the 'complete failure of management to address identified areas of concern', highlighted by the INMO. Those areas of concern include staff recruitment and retention, maintaining a safe work environment, consistent use of agreed escalation planning, enhanced senior clinical decision making presence, and improved access for Triage Nurses to order diagnostics to aid patient flow.
The INMO Executive Council noted that, for the fifteenth month in a row, October 2015 saw an increase in the level of overcrowding in Emergency Departments.
“Our members have had enough, we believe patients have had more than enough and a campaign of action, including industrial action, is now necessary to secure the necessary measures to alleviate this crisis,' said INMO General Secretary Liam Doran. 'The latest figures confirm the measures taken to date have not, are not and will not, alleviate the problem leaving patients, and staff, continually exposed to totally unacceptable care and working environments.
'This campaign, when mandated by members, will demand the additional staffing and other measures necessary to recognise the current reality, minimise risk to patients and ensure the health and wellbeing of nursing staff in the frontline”.

Mr. Doran concluded: “Our members have told us safe care must be prioritised, the crisis cannot be ignored by management any longer and that patient care is being compromised because of overcrowding. The INMO on behalf of its members in Emergency Departments, must act to address this chronic overcrowding and its consequences for patients and staff. Therefore this campaign, and any industrial action that is found necessary, will consistently demand safe staffing and a safe working environment”.