Irish Nurses Organisation turns up the heat

The Irish Nurses Organisation is turning up the heat on the Minister of Health.

The Union has instructed members not to do the work of any fellow member of staff who has lost their job because of health board lay-offs.

The INO has already issued a similar instruction to its members working in the Western Health Board Area, but now it's taking the matter to the national stage.

As well as refusing to carry out the duties of anyone who has been laid-off, members are asked to demand a pro-rata reduction in service levels if any nursing of midwifery posts are left vacant.

It also says new hospital beds should not be attended to if other areas of the same hospital have staff being affected by cutbacks, with the resulting knock-on impact on patients.

The union is demanding an immediate meeting with the Minister for Health.