Nurses to debate motion of no confidence in Harney
Wages, privatisation, staff levels and Minister for Health Mary Harney will be discussed by the country’s nurses and midwives at their annual conference in Co Cavan tomorrow.
Delegates will also debate a motion of no confidence in Ms Harney, who is unable to attend as she is abroad on work commitments.
Up to 350 Irish Nursing Organisation (INO) delegates representing 33,500 nurses and midwives will convene in Ballyconnell for the three-day gathering.
INO general secretary Liam Doran said the the organisation was disappointed that for the first time in over 30 years the serving minister will not be able able to attend, despite receiving an invitation in mid-January.
“We hope her absence is not as a result of the public position the INO has taken, on behalf of patients, nurses and midwives, on A&E overcrowding and other issues over the past 12 months,” he said.
The motion of no confidence in Ms Harney will be debated on Friday morning.
Delegates will also carry out a comprehensive review of the INO’s pay campaign as well as discussing the creeping privatisation of the public health service.
There will be a keynote address by Professor Allyson Pollock of the University of Edinburgh.
The impact of inadequate staffing levels on standards of care will be discussed by Judith Oulten, chief executive officer of the International Council of Nrses.
Delegates will also participate in a critical review of the minister’s performance on health service issues and her relationship with nurses and midwives.
Mr Doran said: “Nurses and midwives are the hardest working, most productive and most flexible grade in the health workforce.
“At this conference nurses and midwives will demand that this is positively recognised and they will achieve their rightful, and legitimate, recognition for the pivotal role they fulfil”.
The conference will debate a total of 70 motions covering a range of issues from student nurses, specialist nurses and others working in hospitals, the community and management.
Delegates will review Government action on overcrowding in A&E departments.
