A&E nurses defer strike on overcrowding

NURSES in accident and emergency departments yesterday deferred a threatened strike after unions and management decided to conduct an audit into the recent hospital overcrowding crisis.

Talks at the Labour Relations Commission led to all parties agreeing to a review of policies and procedures, which precipitated serious problems in accident and emergency departments over the past three weeks.

Dave Hughes, of the Irish Nurses Organisation, warned, however, industrial action would recommence without further notice if overcrowding problems in A&E departments intensified.