Nurses' strike at Cavan General deferred
Today's planned strike at Cavan General hospital's Emergency Department has been deferred the INMO has announced. The nurse and midwives union members had planned to stage two hour strikes in seven hospitals nationwide but the Executive Council pulled back last night.
In a statement they explained that the decision to defer is to allow members to 'consider proposals which emerged following further reengagement under the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC)'.
This consultation, and subsequent balloting, will take place over the next two to three weeks.
The INMO stressed that the planned strike action, originally scheduled for Tuesday, January 12 and Tuesday, January 26, remain in place at this time, and the action has only been deferred.
In a statement the INMO outlined that the proposals, to be considered by members, cover three broad areas as follows:
Escalation
The proposals involve a tightening, and earlier activation of, the national Escalation Policy for the purpose of minimising ED overcrowding, lengthy waits on trolleys and avoiding extra beds/trolleys on inpatient wards.
Recruitment and Retention
Specific measures to assist with recruitment and retention, of nursing staff, to Emergency Departments. These include: the establishment of an ED Staffing Taskforce, to report by March 31, which will set minimum safe staffing levels nationally; an educational bursary for new entrants, worth €1,500 and payable after 12 months in employment; and the appointment of a CNM2, with staff, to care for admitted patients on trolleys in Emergency Departments.
Health and Safety
The proposals involve the designation of all Emergency Departments as distinct workplaces under the Safety Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. This will require the production of safety statements, and the appointment of a Safety Officer and Safety Representatives specific for each ED.
The proposals also provide for an independently chaired process, to report by December 22, on the outstanding issues facing undergraduate and newly graduated nurses in relation to pay and incremental credit.
“The INMO’s consistent objective, throughout this whole campaign, has been to ensure Emergency Departments are as safe as possible for patients and staff,' said INMO General Secretary Liam Doran.
'Our members will now be fully briefed on what has emerged and they will decide whether they are capable of improving the current environment experienced, by both patients and staff, every day.'