'Nursing home turned off heat to save money'

The heating was turned off at night in a nursing home in Co Kerry to save costs, nurses claimed today.

Irish Nursing Organisation (INO) president Sheila Dickson said she was still awaiting an explanation from management at St Columbanus’ Home in Killarney over the incident which occurred last week.

Nurses at the 150-bed long-stay facility said the heating was working during the day but was turned off each night last week.

“These are vulnerable patients who deserve a better level of care and comfort at the end of their lives,” said Ms Dickson.

“Some nurses had to bring extra blankets to wards to keep patients warm.

“If this is how cutbacks will be hitting patients and staff in wards, then it is completely unacceptable.”

The INO and the Irish Medical Organisation today came together for a joint press conference to warn about the risk to patients’ lives from Government cutbacks such as the ban on recruitment and early retirement schemes in the public service.

IMO vice president Prof Sean Tierney said: “We must ensure that health care delivery is efficient and safe.”

The consultant surgeon at Tallaght Hospital added: “A full quota of frontline staff must be maintained to minimise the impact on patients.”

INO general secretary Liam Doran said the care and safety of the patient is no longer paramount in the eyes of the HSE.

“Regardless of pressures the HSE is under, frontline staff must not be asked to work in an environment which poses even greater risks, than currently exist, for patients or themselves.”

The INO said that members are going to work every day and witnessing how patient care is being compromised.

“The people on the frontline must be listened to by the HSE and the Government and not talked down to,” added Mr Doran.

The general secretary claimed that the number of patients waiting on trolleys had increased by 64% in the past two years.

The INO said it wouldn’t rule out rolling strikes such as the lunchtime protests before the 2007 general election but it preferred meaningful engagement on issues with the HSE and the Minister for Health.

The INO said it would continue to post cases of poor patient care on the www.stophealthcuts.ie site.

“No doctor or nurse should be forced to accept and work in circumstances which appear to be ethically wrong or which pose a risk to the safety or welfare of a patient,” said a joint statement by the INO and IMO.

The issues will be discussed further at the INO annual conference in Killarney, which begins tomorrow.