‘Game on. United we will win’

“THE angels of mercy have had their wings clipped for too long. Now it’s the angels versus the devil. Game on. United we will win.”

INO member Nora Cunningham was applauded as she urged nurses protesting at the hospital gates to stand together in their fight for a reduced working week and a pay rise.

Limerick nurses echoed warnings from the INO in Cork that government parties face a 250,000-vote backlash if the nurses dispute is not dealt with before polling day.

INO president Madeline Spiers, addressing more than 600 INO and PNA members at a one-hour protest outside Limerick’s Mid-Western Regional Hospital, said they will have to use a tactical vote.

“The nurses vote will have to think about the future of the service and health and the profession. There are no loyalties to parties; there is merely a loyalty to patients, the health service and their profession,” she said.

While she was not directing how members should vote, she said: “If nurses have any concerns for the future of their profession, they will have to start thinking what government they want. If they (the Government) are not able to deal with it, they should spend some time in opposition.”

INO industrial relations officer Mary Fogarty said members came from Clare, Tipperary and Co Limerick to take part in the protest.

Mark Sparling, the hospital’s acting general manager, said there were no operations or clinics cancelled due to yesterday’s protest.

The refusal by nurses to answer phones, he said, was causing anxiety to people trying to find out about relatives who were patients.