Nurses stage protest over patient numbers

Nurses worked under protest at a Co Louth hospital today to highlight the severe pressures they face with a growing volume of patients.

The Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) said employees at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, were protesting against the limited numbers of staff who were struggling to cope.

Tony Fitzpatrick, INO industrial relations officer, said: “We have lodged a claim with management to increase our staff by seven, get additional porters and clerical cover and have proper seating and air conditioning for patients.”

Mr Fitzpatrick said the group were to hold an urgent meeting with hospital management tomorrow, after there were no developments since they last met a fortnight ago.

“If there is no progress at the meeting tomorrow we will decide whether to take it to the Labour Relation Commission.”

The group said the number of patients attending the Outpatients Department, which is manned by 10 nurses, has increased by 84% over the past 18 months.

Orthopaedic patients from Cavan, Monaghan, Meath and Louth are attending the Drogheda hospital for follow-up treatment since the North Eastern Health Board restructured its services last year.

Drogheda was made the regional centre for trauma cases and children’s planned surgery, while all patients requiring follow-up care are referred to the outpatient clinic in Drogheda.

“Our members have commenced wearing the ‘Nurse working under protest’ badge in an effort to highlight the long waiting times and discomfort that patients have to tolerate as well as the unacceptable conditions under which they are working.”

The INO said this system was put in place without adequate resources, staffing or facilities to meet the demand.

“There should have been proper planning... everyone could have foreseen that there would have been a problem, Mr Fitzpatrick said.

“The patients may have an appointment for 9am but they may not be seen for three or four hours. The clinic runs well past five o’clock, when the nurses are supposed to be finished work.”