Nurses to protest in support of stressed colleagues

Hundreds of nurses are expected to protest outside Portiuncula Hospital today in support of five colleagues embroiled in a long-running dispute with health chiefs.

The five senior nurse managers at the Co Galway hospital are off sick with stress after raising health and safety concerns last September with management.

The Irish Nurses Organisation claimed an agreement was reached for them to come back to work, but they fear they will face disciplinary action if they do.

The INO urged health chiefs to make efforts resolve the row.

Noreen Muldoon, INO industrial relations officer, said: “INO members, in supporting their colleagues, are adamant that they should be returned to their normal posts without the preconditions proposed by management.”

The INO said the senior nurse managers raised a number of complaints over the health and safety of staff and patients at the hospital and some of their conditions of employment.

Management at the hospital invited nurses to an assessment with an outside consultant, but the first two called refused to attend claiming there was no clear terms of reference.

They were then suspended on full pay.

The Health Service Executive said the nurses refused to co-operate with the assessment despite assurances they would see the consultants report before it is completed.

It warned services would have to be curtailed and jobs would be put at risk if the lunchtime action goes ahead.

A HSE spokesman said: “This does nothing for the professional reputation of Irish nursing.

“The bottom line is that everyone is subject to authority and the sooner this is accepted the better.”