Hospital care not affected by pay dispute

DISRUPTION to patient services at Cork University Hospital (CUH) was minimal yesterday.

Patients attending the hospital’s A&E department said care had not been affected by the pay row between health service employers and nurses. One group of gentlemen, from Caherciveen, Co Kerry, said the service “had never been better.”

John Coleman, from Glanworth, Co Cork, said he had no complaints.

Attending the A&E for treatment of broken bones and torn tendons in his hand, crushed under a keg, he said the only noticeable effect of the work-to-rule was pressure on the receptionist.

“I felt sorry for her. She was trying to give out appointment cards on one hand, while also dealing with a lot of phonecalls.

“Personally though, the work-to-rule has not affected my care,” he said.

Outside the x-ray clinic, a woman awaiting x-ray of her arm said the nurses were “as efficient as ever.”

However Dr Stephen Cusack, head of the A&E at CUH, said they had taken on extra medical staff in an effort to keep the department on an even keel.

“There are problems, but everyone is doing their best to work around them.”