Opening of 31-bed Cork University Hospital unit to proceed after row

A row between nurses and management which had threatened to scupper the planned opening of a 31-bed unit at Cork University Hospital on Monday has been resolved sufficiently to allow the opening to go ahead.

Michael Dineen of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation confirmed last night that some concerns remained over the use of outsourcing. However, he he said that issue is to be raised further at national level.

Following a meeting of the sides at the Workplace Relations Commission last Monday and a further round of talks yesterday, the concerns of the union in relation to governance and supervision were addressed to allow the opening to go ahead.

The ward is designed to reduce overcrowding in the emergency department.

The HSE has said the opening of the beds will significantly improve the functioning of the emergency department “and most importantly will improve patient care in line with the recommendations of the National ED Taskforce”.

Mr Dineen said the union had received a commitment from the Health Service Executive that in future similar situations, “it would comply with the requirements of the Information and Consultation Directive”.

“That would mean that unions would have to be included in the process from the outset rather than on the eve of the opening of the unit like this,” Mr Dineen said.

The HSE has said the unit is not being outsourced and that agency staff will be replaced once permanent nurses are secured to staff the unit.