The INMO says it’s not optimistic about today’s talks at the Labour Court.
The body has invited nursing unions and government officials to meet in an effort to avoid three days of strike action by over 40,000 nurses next week.
Meanwhile, the Shannon-based President of Active Retirement Ireland says the nurses have the support of the older population, as Clare FM’s James Mulhall reports:
Crunch talks are underway at the Labour Court this afternoon, in an attempt to avert next week’s planned three days of strike action by nurses and midwives.
Around 80,000 appointments look set to be cancelled, should the action go ahead, causing mayhem in the health system.
Nursing unions, the HSE and government officials are locked in talks this lunchtime, with the aim of reaching a resolve that will see the strikes called off.
Government officials refused to comment as they arrived.
But General Secretary of the INMO, Phil Ní Sheaghdha, says there’s no sign of them changing their position.
Meanwhile, the Shannon-based President of Active Retirement Ireland is assuring the striking nurses that they have strong support from older people in this country.
The organisation took the unusual step of releasing a statement supporting the nurses – it’s usually non-political.
But Kay Murphy says their members see first-hand the conditions that nurses are working in, and want something changed.
Meanwhile, nurses say there are twice as many patients waiting for beds at the region’s main hospital today than the next busiest facility.
The latest INMO figures show 55 people were left waiting on trolleys at University Hospital Limerick this morning, 35 of those in the emergency department.
It means the Dooradoyle facility is the busiest in the country and the overall figure is 28 more than Galway University Hospital, the second busiest.
