It’s time to give nurses proper pay

AT what point will the Government see the damage they are causing to some of the hardest working staff in the country?

Nurses and midwives are the lowest-paid graduate professionals in the health service, earning thousands less than similarly qualified health professionals, even though they have a longer working week.

To see 95% of INMO members vote to take strike action is evident of a system that is failing them time and time again.

A staff nurse earns €36,383 after five years, whereas a teacher gets a starting salary of €37,804.

This disparity is one that has rightly brought increased frustration among the INMO and saw them reject a pay proposal in October by 94%.

Shortages compromise safe care and we already have issues within our hospitals to begin with.

And Minister Simon Harris’ own nursing taskforce even found this haphazard approach is expensive and bad for patients.

So what has to happen for him to actively try and improve the situation? Why won’t he sit down with the INMO council and talk about it before he takes his Christmas time off ?

The voices on the frontlines are crying out for the same thing time and time again.

These nurses and midwives are real angels and they deserve some progress. life