Nurses are invaluable

“The problems with recruitment and retention have been ongoing for years, and the government has done little to encourage nurses working abroad to come back home. Wednesday was another example, where nurses were forced to take to the picket line in order to ensure safe working conditions and safety for patients.

“Until such time as the government addresses the issues of nurses and midwives pay and conditions the problems of recruitment and retention are going to linger on. Nurses did not want to strike. This was a last resort. This is only their second time ever taking to the picket lines.

“The safety of patients is being put at risk due to understaffing. Unless the government acknowledges the work these frontline workers do, in stressful conditions, we’re going to end up with a situation where every newly qualified nurse or midwife will leave these shores to find work in hospitals across the world where they are treated with respect, proper pay and proper conditions.’ FIANNA Fáil local election candidate in Drogheda Urban, Anthony Moore (pictured) , has given his backing to the nurses and midwives of the INMO who went on strike in their campaign for pay parity with other healthcare professionals.

Moore said “I was delighted to be able to stand in solidarity with the nurses and midwives of the INMO outside Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital. Despite the cold weather, they were turning up the heat on the government as they campaign for pay parity with other healthcare professionals. They have my full support.

“I believe that the work that nurses and midwives do is no less valuable than the wonderful work being done by our teachers and Gardai and it is simply unfair that they are paid so much less than them. It’s time for our government to treat nurses and midwives equally and recognise the indispensable role they play in providing first-class patient care”.