Mater nurses protest over car park

Nurses worked under protest at one of the country’s main hospitals today to highlight the dangers they face over parking problems.

The Irish Nursing Organisation (INO) said changes made to parking facilities by management at Dublin’s Mater Hospital have raised late night security issues.

Tony Fitzpatrick, INO industrial relations officer, said nurses, who wore Working Under Protest badges today, were being refused access to the nearby Eccles Street car park by security staff.

The INO said this meant they had to travel a further half a mile to the overflow area at Dalymount, which meant more transport time and security issues.

However, a spokeswoman for management at the city centre hospital, said: “Unfortunately that car park is so busy that it has become a health and safety issue, there were so many people parking there that we had to cut back on spaces.”

The hospital stressed that staff workers across all disciplines and grades were being asked to use the Dalymount car park whenever facilities at Eccles Street become full.

The spokeswoman said extra spaces had earlier been allocated to retain nursing staff but due to safety problems only 400 cars would now be using the Eccles Street facilities.

“It is not just nursing staff. When it is full, it is a first-come, first-served basis. It is not reserved for anyone,” she added. “Nursing staff were always given priority.”

Management said the overflow car park, which has 150 places, has been used for the past three years without incident.

But Mr Fitzpatrick said: “This illogical decision is resulting in great inconvenience and distress to nursing staff who now have to walk a long distance after a late shift and don’t feel secure.”

The spokeswoman said security was an issue for everyone working in Dublin.

The INO said as there was no consultation from management it breached the terms of the national Sustaining Progress pay agreement.

Mr Fitzpatrick said the union would be seeking an emergency meeting with the hospital chief executive within the next three days.

The hospital, which has a mobility management committee to oversee transport issues, had launched a commuter bus to encourage workers to use public transport but it was cancelled after few used it.

“The Mater Hospital has a huge problem in recruiting and retaining nurses, with 30 currently vacant nursing posts, and this action is leaving many of our members considering their future with this hospital,” Mr Fitzpatrick warned.

The Mater Hospital released the following statement this afternoon: "Health and safety risks have necessitated more rigorous management of the Mater Hospital’s main 450 space car park on Eccles Street.

"The risks are caused by capacity issues owing to the increasing number of car users amongst the staff of the Mater Hospital.

"Once the car park, which operates on a ‘first come, first served basis’, has reached capacity all car pass holders are asked to avail of the hospital’s overflow car parking facility in Dalymount which has operated successfully for the last three years.

"The new arrangements apply equally to all car pass holders at the Hospital."