Kerry nurses fear for patients
The Irish Nurses’ Organisation (INO), which had already called for a curtailment of services because of shortages in personnel, claimed the hospital is short 80 nurses.
Last month, the only consultant at the hospital’s A&E unit, Dr Sean O’Rourke, tendered his resignation. He had previously hit out at what he claimed was the Health Service Executive’s (HSE) failure to provide adequate staff for the unit.
The INO, which has also threatened industrial action, has launched a new campaign to highlight overcrowding at the A&E unit and understaffing at the hospital.
As part of the campaign, postcards are to be placed at the A&E unit and those attending are being asked to use them to demand action from Health Minister Mary Harney to deal with overcrowding and understaffing.
INO official Michael Dineen said there was an increased level of sick leave among nurses, in Tralee, because of the pressures they were under. The biggest fear among nurses was that such a situation could compromise patient safety.
“Nurses are afraid something could go wrong because of the strain and pressure they're working under,” Mr Dineen said.
A review of staffing at the hospital is due in the coming months, but the INO believes it could take up to 12 months before there’s any increase in staff on the ground.
