The Minister for Health says everyone needs to ‘put their shoulder to the wheel’ to resolve the ongoing dispute between the government and nurses.
Nurses at four locations in Clare are among 37,000 nationally who have taken to the picket line for the third day, as the row rages over pay and staffing levels.
Clare FM’s Gavin Grace reports:
Today, thousands of medical appointments have been cancelled once again as nurses and midwives across Ireland take to the picket lines.
The current impasse about pay and the ability to recruit and retain staff has now led to three days of strike action.
Three more days of strikes are planned for next week, from Tuesday to Thursday, and that is expected to cause chaos in the health service.
However, Health Minister Simon Harris is confident the dispute can and will be resolved.
But despite the optimism from in Leinster House, the INMO says nurses and midwives remain resolute.
The impact of the strike is once again taking hold in the region’s main hospital, with the union saying nearly 65 were on trolleys at University Hospital Limerick earlier.
And the injury units at Ennis, St John’s and Nenagh are closed once again, adding to that pressure.
But Mary Fogarty says this week is highlighting problems that have been building for years.
Here in Clare, demonstrations are being held at Ennis General Hospital, Bindon Street Health Centre and St Joseph’s Hospital in the county town, while nurses are also striking at the Raheen Community Nursing Unit in Scarriff.
These strikers at Bindon Street feel they’re receiving stong support in their demands from both patients and members of the public.
