Cutbacks at hospitals will impact on patient care, warns INO

BUDGETARY cutbacks planned by the Health Service Executive for three hospitals in the Midlands will have an immediate and severe impact on patient care, according to the Irish Nurses Organisation (INO).

The INO has reacted angrily to the plans, particularly the decision to cut the number of agency nurses hired by 25% in maternity hospitals and stop non-emergency surgery by locum consultants so offer staff can go on leave without the need for locum cover.