Nurses’ on-call strike threat could put health reform at risk

ANGRY theatre nurses have threatened to strike if their local health board fails to pay them new on-call rates sanctioned by the Department of Health in July.

The strike would be a major embarrassment to the Mid-Western Health Board (MWHB) if it goes ahead, as it would scuttle the implementation of the first phase of the Hanly Report the region was yesterday selected as the first pilot area to test the report's medical manpower recommendations.

Theatre nurses are pivotal to the implementation of the Hanly Report as no operations can take place without them, SIPTU branch secretary Tony Doody said.