Safe hospital staffing levels secured after 12-year dispute

THE union representing nurses has secured safe staffing levels for Clonmel hospital after an industrial battle going back to the mid-1990s.

The long-running issue involved an amalgamation proposal which led to the South Tipperary General Hospital becoming an acute facility.

In 1996 an agreement was reached between the South Eastern Health Board and the Cashel Hospital Action Committee regarding the future delivery of hospital services in the region.

As part of the agreement it was decided that acute surgical, medical and A&E services would be provided in South Tipperary General Hospital in Clonmel.

St Patrick’s Hospital in Cashel was to be retained as a geriatric hospital, and Our Lady’s Hospital in Cashel would be a community hospital dealing with all ages and delivering fracture, obstetrics, gynaecological, and psychiatric services by way of various clinics — along with in-patient facilities for patients with physical disabilities and elderly mentally infirm patients.

Although it was envisaged at the time that the amalgamation of acute services in Clonmel would take approximately two years from the date of the agreement, a lack of funding from successive Governments delayed the implementation of the proposals.

However, over the past few years, funding was made available, in phases, for suitable arrangements for the amalgamation and the Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) recommenced negotiations with management regarding staffing levels and other issues for the new services in Clonmel.

Negotiations culminated with a conciliation conference on December 19.

The proposals, which provide for generous staffing levels for each of the five acute services relocating to Clonmel — intensive care unit, surgical day ward, surgical ward, A&E and theatre — were accepted by INO members.

Liz Curran, the INO’s industrial relations officer for the south-east region, said: “The successful conclusion of negotiations meant long-awaited amalgamation of acute services in the South Tipperary General Hospital in Clonmel has finally occurred.

“Staff of both services have been extremely frustrated at the delay in funding the project, which has taken almost 12 years to complete.

“Negotiations regarding the services to be provided at the Cashel site into the future have commenced and will continue until all aspects of the services have been agreed with the INO,” she added.