Court says HSE cannot refuse to replace student nurses

THE Labour Court has said the HSE West cannot refuse to replace almost 400 student nurses once they complete their current 36-week placement.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation had sought the intervention of the court after it emerged the HSE West, as a cost-saving measure, was considering releasing the 376 pre-registration nurses without putting in place the 188 replacement qualified nurses as laid down in Department of Health guidelines.

According to the INMO the Labour Court recommendation, which has not yet been made available to the general public, says the HSE West cannot depart from the national agreement which exists, with regard to the replacement of student nurses/midwives who have completed their rostered placement.