Plans for lunchtime protests outside A&Es by nurses may be reinstated

AS the number of patients on trolleys reached 335 yesterday, the Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) said plans to hold lunchtime protests outside A&Es are likely to be reinstated.

The action, due to commence on February 22, was deferred after Health Minister Mary Harney persuaded the INO to give her €70m 10-point plan a chance to resolve the A&E crisis.

However, last night, INO general secretary Liam Doran said the protests were likely to be reinstated at the INO’s executive council meeting on March 22. “There is a huge gap between the plan and the ability to deliver on it and in the middle are nurses and patients,” he said.