HSE bids to ease midwife boycott fears

HEALTH managers moved yesterday to ease fears over midwifes who have promised they will boycott the opening of the country’s newest maternity hospital over staffing levels.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) South also accused the main nursing union of creating “unnecessary anxiety” for mums-to-be ahead of the opening on March 24 of the €75 million Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH).

The city’s three maternity hospitals — the HSE-managed St Finbarr’s and Erinville, and the privately run Bon Secours unit — are due to close when CUMH opens in just over six weeks.

But up to 300 Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) midwives working in the hospitals have threatened to boycott the new hospital in a row over midwife staffing levels.

They want 383 midwives employed from day one to deliver what they have described as a safe level of service.

But the HSE South’s assistant national director of human resources, Barry O’Brien, said CUMH will open its doors on March 24.

“We are not going to accept nurses deciding not to turn up. There will be no option but for midwives to turn up for work at CUMH on March 24,” he said.

The state-of-the art facility will open with a 375-strong nursing resource — 304 midwives, 64 student midwives and seven-and-a-half nursery nurse positions, he said.

These staffing levels are in line with best international standards and will be reviewed regularly.

The 383 staff level sought by the INO will be reached by December, he said.

Mr O’Brien said that following two years of negotiations with SIPTU, Impact and the IMO, just a number of minor issues on the transfer remain unresolved.

The INO is the only union to raise concerns at this late stage, he said.

It also emerged yesterday that all unions lodged claims for relocation payments of between €4,000 and €5,000 for each of their members.

But the Labour Court recommended an extra day of leave, which has been accepted by the other unions. The INO is still seeking the relocation payment.

The HSE has also made a number of concessions to maternity staff at the three hospitals, including agreements on promotions, regularising temporary staff, providing extra clinical nurse staff and clerical positions.

The HSE will also provide a shuttle bus service to transfer staff from the St Finbarr’s site to CUMH.

But INO officer Patsy Doyle said her members’ main concern was still staffing numbers.

She reiterated her position that midwives will not turn up for work at CUMH on March 24 until the issues are resolved.