The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Nurses on the picket line after talks fail
AFTER last ditch efforts to prevent the biggest nursing strike in the history of the State failed, nurses and midwives across the county were due to mount pickets and start a 24-hour work stoppage on Wednesday morning.
The main protests by Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation members were due to take place at University Hospital Kerry (UHK) and at the Community Hospitals in Kenmare and Cahersiveen.
While the largest protests will take place at these hospitals, INMO members will also down tools at day care centres and some community nursing services – such as some home care visits – will also be impacted by the INMO action.
All inpatient and day case surgeries have been cancelled at UHK, as have all out-patient appointments. While most health services will be impacted, vital services will still be operational.
AFTER last-ditch efforts to prevent the biggest nursing strike in the history of the State failed, nurses and midwives across the county will mount pickets and start a 24-hour strike this morning (Wednesday).
The main protests by Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation members are due to start at University Hospital Kerry (UHK) from 8am this morning (January 30); and at the Community Hospitals in Kenmare and Cahersiveen from 9am.
While the largest protests will take place at these hospitals, INMO members will also down tools at day care centres.
Some community nursing services – such as some home care visits – will also be impacted by the INMO action.
All inpatient and day care surgeries have been cancelled at UHK, as have all out patient appointments. While most health services will be impacted, vital services will still be operational.
The UHK Emergency Department will be open, though, with a significantly reduced staff. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy and dialysis delivery will go ahead as normal, as will obstetrics and colposcopy services. Maternity services, in-patient wards, critical care wards and emergency theatres will be fully staffed. The INMO said its members will also be available to deal with any emergency cases that may arise.
NMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha, who is from West Kerry, was sharply critical yesterday (Tuesday, January 29) of the Government’s failure to respond to the union’s demands.
“Ireland’s nurses and midwives are asking simple questions: Where is the Taoiseach? Where is the Minister for Finance? There is a vacuum of political leadership,” she said.
“The largest strike in the health service’s history looms, and our political leaders are nowhere to be seen. With a heavy heart, strike preparations continue,” she said. “As ever, we are available to talk any time, but we are still waiting for the government to make realistic proposals to avert this strike.”