Children’s intensive care unit remains closed over row

TALKS took place in Limerick yesterday to break the deadlock which has prevented the opening of a new two-bed intensive care unit for sick children at the Mid Western Regional Hospital.

A spokesman for the Health Service Executive said: “Discussions are ongoing to attempt to resolve outstanding issues.”

A stand-off between the Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) and hospital management has delayed the opening of the unit for the past three months.

The unit would care for two critically ill children at any one time.

As the opening of the new unit dragged on, a war of words strained negotiations on staffing at the unit.

The HSE have maintained that all the necessary funding and staffing resources have been put in place.

The INO, however, insist that the necessary 15.5 specialist staff nurses (for a 24-hour daily roster over 52 weeks) and anaesthetic cover have not been provided.

The INO also argued that education and service protocols needed to be in place.

Mary Fogarty, INO industrial relations officer in the Mid-West, said recently: “Our members are very concerned that management are using tactics to prematurely open this unit without agreement on acceptable standards of care and resources and compliance with clinical governance principles.”