ED strike to go ahead at Tullamore's Midland Regional Hospital

The first day of strike action by INMO members in Emergency Departments, will go ahead, on next Tuesday December 15.

It will involve two hour rolling stoppages between 8am and 4pm, in seven hospitals - Midland Regional Hospital in Tullamore; Beaumont and Tallaght, Dublin; Mercy Hospital, Cork; Cavan General Hospital; UH Galway; and UH Waterford.

According to the INMO, nurses will completely withdraw from these departments for the two hours, while maintaining an emergency response team in an adjacent area.

This first day of strike action will be followed up by further days, in mid and late January, in the absence of progress on a range of critical issues.

The strike action is proceeding after the breakdown of talks, at the Workplace Relations Commission, after four days. 

Speaking today INMO General Secretary Liam Doran said:

"This dispute is responding to the HSE, and the Department’s confirmation that Emergency Department’s will continue to be very overcrowded, into the future. In that context, we must staff them appropriately and create, and maintain, the best possible environment for patients and staff.

"This cannot be done without addressing the staffing crisis which, in turn, requires recruitment and retention initiatives. This will cost money but it does not involve a breach of existing agreements.

"The situation has not been helped by the lack of clarity, and lack of urgency, from the management side which is made up of a number of parties including the Department of Health/HSE/Voluntary Hospitals/IBEC, all with, apparently, differing priorities”.

Mr. Doran concluded:

“This action is about recognising the plight for patients and staff, in our Emergency Departments, and ending the indifference towards both that has existed, within management, over the past 12 years of chronic overcrowding”.