Nurses to strike over staffing levels

Nurses will today stage an all-out strike at Sligo General Hospital as a dispute over staffing levels escalates.

The Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) said 230 staff members at the regional facility will walk out from 8am after talks aimed at reverting the industrial action collapsed.

Industrial relations officer Noel Treanor called for urgent intervention from the highest level to immediately seek a provision which would allow for the deferral of the action.

The union claimed while the Health Service Executive (HSE) acknowledged significant nursing staff deficits in many acute areas, it refused to re-engage 19 nurses whose contracts were not renewed.

Mr Treanor maintained the nursing service in Sligo General is being provided solely with the goodwill and flexibility of nurses working under severe and increasing pressure.

“Management’s intransigence and arrogance in reducing nursing numbers, combined with their acknowledgement that there are clear and substantial deficits, show how little is their regard for their employees and, more importantly, the patients,” said Mr Treanor.

“This action is not being undertaken with a light heart but is the only road available at this stage in pursuit of safe staffing levels in order to provide safe care in Sligo General Hospital.”