INO asks public to post evidence of cutbacks on networking sites

SOCIAL networking sites are being targeted by the Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) as part of its latest initiatives to highlight cutbacks in the health service.

Under its Cutbacks Watch campaign, launched yesterday, the public will be able to post photographs and video clips of their experiences in hospitals around the country, as well as post their comments online.

The cutbacks will be highlighted on www.stophealthcuts.ie as well as social networking sites, including Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

INO president, Sheila Dickson, said the web-based initiative was timely in the face of further predicted cuts in frontline care.

Last week, Health Service Executive chief, Prof Brendan Drumm, admitted frontline services would be affected by the HSE’s need to make immediate savings of €70 million in the face of a predicted budget overrun of €480m this year.

The INO’s Cutbacks Watch, similar to “trolley watch”, encourages the public to send in photographs or video clips of closed wards, ambulances delayed at A&Es, or other examples of cutbacks compromising patient care and placing staff under stress.

Comments, photos and video clips will all be vetted before going live on the cutbacks website, and the INO said patient confidentiality would be upheld at all times.

In tandem with the new website, the INO has produced a FREEPOST postcard for patients and their families who do not want to go online but who wish to make a comment.

Completed postcards will be delivered in bulk to Health Minister Mary Harney. The postcards, as well as car stickers, will be available nationally over the next few weeks.

Separately, the INO launched a booklet for members containing guidelines on how to deal with cutbacks. Nurses are advised to maintain safe standards of care; maintain the maximum number of jobs; and maintain all negotiated pay rates, including allowances and premium payments.

Speaking at the launch, INO general secretary, Liam Doran, said the latest initiatives were “undoubtedly a struggle to protect and maintain any vestige of a public health service worthy of the name”.

“It is simply impossible to reduce health expenditure without there being a serious, damaging and long-term impact upon patients, clients and the staff who work in the health service,” said Mr Doran.