Health staff told to get tough

HEALTH workers have been instructed to refuse additional responsibilities, resist redeployment and withdraw co-operation from new services in a directive endorsed by eight unions.

The nine-point plan, distributed to delegates attending the Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) AGM in Killarney, Co Kerry, also instructs health workers to advise employers who breach work contracts that any impact on patient care is their responsibility; to call for a risk assessment where it is proposed to end temporary work contracts; and to report for work but not go on duty if they believe staffing levels are unsafe.

Union members have also been advised that, where they disobey the Health Service Executive in the interests of patient safety, the union will support them.