Lunch crisis for 900 patients as hospital chefs walk out

CHEFS walked off the job at Mid-Western Regional Hospital yesterday, leaving catering management in charge of the pots and pans — with more than 900 patients and staff to feed.

A Health Service Executive spokesman said: “We have appealed to chefs employed at Mid-Western Regional Hospital to end this lightning strike and return to work immediately.”

He added that seven chefs walked out yesterday morning in support of a female colleague who was claiming the right to return to work on her own terms after a 10-year period of job sharing and reduced hours.