Nurses to lead public revolt over health cuts

THE Irish Nurses Organisation is to lead to public revolt against government cutbacks they claim are crippling the health system.

In a further setback to the Government, public health doctors announced yesterday they are to picket hospitals across the country from today. The doctors are also going to ballot on an all-out picket and have asked SIPTU and other unions for support.

At the second day of their annual conference, INTO general secretary Liam Doran said they are considering running community-based candidates to challenge the Government.

Executive Council member Madeline Spiers, Dublin East Coast branch, called on members to ally themselves with politicians that “think as we do”: “We are tired and worn out trying to keep the system going. We have to deal at the coalface every day with death and delays. We will take on the consultants and the politicians and, if they don’t deliver, we will take a policy decision not to vote Fianna Fáil next time around.”

After an emergency motion condemning the recent tranche of cutbacks at Dublin’s main hospitals was carried unanimously yesterday, the INO is to mobilise public resistance to the cuts.

Letters will be sent to INO branch secretaries in all health board areas and industrial relations officers will be instructed to barrage the media with every cut and its effect upon patient care and services in their area.

The Irish Patients Association will be asked to form an alliance with the INO, along with the other nursing unions and local hospital groups will be approached to join the campaign. Patients, their families and relatives will also be asked to pressurise local politicians to force the Government to halt the cutbacks.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions will also be asked to back the nurses by pressurising the Government to fulfil its obligations under the new social programme, Sustaining Progress, into implementing the health strategy.

The INO is also considering nationwide protests. A decision on where and when they might take place will be discussed at a meeting of the executive council on June 7/8.

“We will see how we can manifest this anger and frustration in the form of national protests,” Mr Doran said. “The only thing that threatens politicians is when you threaten their vote.”