Hospital staff prepare for showdown over cuts

STAFF at Mercy University Hospital (MUH) are steeling themselves for tough negotiations next month after the hospital stepped back from controversial €4 million cost-cutting measures announced last week.

MUH management says it is expecting unions, including the Irish Nurses Organisation (INO), Impact and SIPTU, to come up with alternative methods of savings when they meet on April 1. The hospital is experiencing a €7m budget deficit.

MUH deputy chief executive Jim Corbett said he expects the negotiations to end in weeks.