HSE agrees to defer midlands hospital job cuts

The HSE has agreed to defer 21 job cuts in the Midland Regional Hospitals following discussions with the Irish Nurses' Organisation.

The cuts are being postponed to allow for risk assessments to be carried out in Portlaoise, Tullamore and Mullingar hospitals.

The INO says it is confident the assessments will uncover dangerously low staffing levels in all three facilities.

It is also warned that it will ballot its members for industrial action if the threat to the 21 nursing jobs is reactivated without agreement on safe staffing levels.