Cutbacks putting patients at risk, claim nurses

PATIENT lives are being put at risk because the Government’s ongoing health service recruitment ban is forcing nurses to take on excessive workloads due to widespread staff shortages, it has been claimed.

Nurses’ representative group, the Irish Association of Directors of Nursing and Midwifery (IADNM), has warned that despite assurances all essential staff positions would be filled regardless of the moratorium on new appointments, hospitals across the country are struggling to meet the “bare minimum safety standards” because of cutbacks on wards.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner the organisation’s honorary president, Irene O’Connor, said significant medical errors are occurring as nurses who are on maternity leave, have retired or have been reassigned are not being replaced.