Nurses issue election warning

ANGRY student nurses have warned politicians they will be punished in the general election unless plans to abolish their pay during ward placements are reversed.

Up to 3,000 protesters marched through Dublin and staged a rally at the Department of Health over plans to phase out payments to fourth-year students working on wards during a nine-month internship. Security staff padlocked the gates around Hawkins House and health chiefs quickly left for lunch before nurses and midwives arrived to hand in a letter calling on the incoming minister to reverse the plan.

Louise O’Reilly, SIPTU’S national nursing official, said the cuts were a new low for the Government. “We will hold our politicians to account and shame those cowards who will not pledge to reverse those cuts.