Midwives to vote for second time on HSE offer

MIDWIVES will be asked to vote for a second time on an offer they have already rejected to co-operate with the opening of a new maternity hospital.

Crucially, however, the offer will contain updated details of the exact number of midwives available to staff the new service at Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH). If midwives reject the offer, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has warned CUMH may be put to a different use. Refusal to co-operate will also lead to withdrawal of up to 220 employment offers to staff recruited to the new service. The HSE has set March 31 as the “final date” for commissioning the hospital.

The INO said it expected to be in a position to advise the HSE what its midwives’ decision is by tomorrow.