Mothers left without vital support, claims INO

CORK city mothers and their newborn babies are being left without crucial support from public health nurses (PHN) because of the recruitment freeze and a refusal to cover sick leave.

According to Patsy Doyle of the Irish Nurses Organisation, three PHN positions have not been filled in the North Lee region at present and a further three nurses who are on long-term sick leave are not having their leave covered.

That is not only putting pressure on the nurses who are covering the area but also on the patients who require their help — not least mothers and newborn babies who are usually seen by a PHN after the birth to offer help and advice.

Ms Doyle said the matter in the North Lee area was brought to the union’s attention by its members.

It met with Health Service Executive management last week and accused senior HSE figures of taking the decision not to fill posts while still expecting workers to carry out the same level of service.

Ms Doyle said the union approached Pat Healy, assistant national director of Primary Community Continuing Care in Cork, asking him to listen to the requirements of the directors of nursing in the region.

“The approach being taken by the HSE is highly disproportionate,” she said. “It should be filling the posts on their merits. They are denying an entitlement of service to the community.”

She said the health service managers had agreed to fill one post under pressure from the union but added another five were outstanding.

Ms Doyle said the lack of personnel in the primary community continuing care sector spread beyond nurses into other sectors of the health service.

In response to the INO assertions, the HSE issued a statement in which it said: “Posts in the public health nursing service become vacant on an ongoing basis due to sick leave, maternity leave and annual leave.

“There is an ongoing process within the HSE for replacement and recruitment of staff. In the interim, the North Lee Community Services Department are involved in allocating work on a prioritised clinical needs basis, taking into account the relevant skill mix available in the public health nursing department.”

The spokesman said in North Lee, a replacement public health nurse began work yesterday and another nurse was due to begin work today.