Nurses’ strike ‘for the greater good’ - INMO
“We are very enthused by the public support and we believe it will continue,” a spokesperson for the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) said ahead of a 24-hour nurses’ strike, which will commence at 7:30am tomorrow morning (Wednesday), writes Thomas Lyons.
In the early hours of yesterday morning Labour Court discussions examining the positions of the Health Service Executive (HSE) management and nursing unions failed to arrive at an agreement between the parties.
The strike affects all but “emergency and life preserving cover” at Cavan General Hospital and others. The nursing unions have pledged to maintain emergency cover during the strikes. However the rescheduling of cancellations will impact on the local waiting lists.
David Miskell, industrial relations officer with the Cavan branch of the INMO, believes the public back the action: “We are still getting very strong support from the public. People see the value of the work nurses do. Everyone has been touched to some degree by nursing shortages or by waiting on trolleys. I think everyone can see that this strike is necessary. Ultimately there is no reason why nurses and midwives should be paid so much less than their counterparts in the health service.”
The strike by members of the INMO will lead to widespread disruption in the health service with about 15,000 people across the country facing cancellation of hospital out-patient appointments or planned procedures.
Further strikes
Today’s industrial action will be the first of six planned 24-hour strikes by the INMO. The 37,000 members of the group are also scheduled to withdraw labour on February 5, 7, 12, 13 and 14.
The nursing unions say inadequate pay is impairing recruitment and retention of staff and they are seeking 12% pay rise to bring them into line with therapy grades like physiotherapists. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform say the €300m estimated cost of the nurses’ claim would trigger knock-on claims across the public service.
Mr Miskill says the nurses motives are wide ranging: “We believe it’s for the greater good. Putting adequate nursing resources in place will ultimately deliver for patient in the long term.
“This is as much about the future of the health service as it is about nursing.”
Services affected
A statement by the HSE outlined the services not available on the day of the strike. They include local injury units, planned inpatient, except for cancer surgery and planned day case procedures.
All outpatient appointments are cancelled, including adult, maternity and paediatric appointments. Pregnant woman who needs urgent assessment should go to the emergency admission room, while all routine community nursing services and health centre clinics where nurses participate will be cancelled.
All day hospitals or outpatient appointments in community nursing hospitals or units will be cancelled
Services that remain operational include emergency departments, urgent cancer surgery, maternity services, colposcopy and oncology services, dialysis, planned obstetric procedures, residential care of older people and people with intellectual disability, palliative care and limited newborn screening will be available.
The HSE statement said: “If you have an appointment or procedure that is cancelled, we will contact you directly to reschedule. Please only attend our emergency services if absolutely essential. We are sorry about the inconvenience this may cause you.”