50 midwives picket health board meeting over staffing levels

FIFTY midwives at one of the country’s busiest general hospitals will picket outside a health board meeting tomorrow in protest over staffing levels. And unless progress is made soon, they’ve threatened industrial action.

The Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) members at Wexford General Hospital have voted in favour of industrial action.

A 2001 report highlights the “unsafe” staffing levels at the hospital and indicates an extra 10 midwives and 12.5 care assistants are required at the unit, which delivers 1,300 babies annually.