Patients still at risk of strikes as nurses fail to reach deal in pay talks

HOSPITAL patients still face disruption from the end of the month as there was no breakthrough at talks to avert strikes by 40,000 nurses.

General secretary of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) Phil Ní Sheaghdha said there was a “very frank exchange of views” at a meeting of a body that oversees compliance with the public sector pay deal.

Speaking after talks with the Oversight Body last night, she said her members are still preparing for a 24-hour strike in 12 days.

“We’re doing everything we can to avert it,” she said.

“We have set out the reality of what it is to provide a safe service in the health service and we want to be very assured that the other side understand that because the recruitment and retention problem is real.

“It is significantly interfering with the business of providing safe care and that’s the nub of it.”

She said there was a long exchange of views on the crucial issue of whether the nurses’ demands could be dealt with within the public sector pay deal.

Ms Ní Sheaghdha urged the Government to table meaningful proposals.

The row could lead to stoppages on January 30 and five dates the following month.

Nurses want a 12pc increase to put them on a par with other healthcare professionals.

But the Government has warned that they are in breach of the current wage agreement by demanding pay rises above what is already due under that deal.

Ministers said nurses would also breach the deal by going on strike.

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe told the Dáil earlier this week that there is a major risk of knock on claims by other public servants if the nurses got extra pay rises.

Officials from the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA), which is also planning industrial action, did not attend the meeting with the Oversight Body yesterday.

It is understood that this was due to prior commitments.

The INMO and PNA are due to meet health sector management for further talks on Monday.