Staff shortage leads to cancellation of surgeries at Cavan hospital

Cavan General Hospital has cancelled some elective, or non-urgent surgeries, as a result of a shortage of nurses supplied by agencies.

The Health Service Executive confirmed this evening that some other hospitals are also considering a similar move.

It follows a change in the rate of pay for agency nurses.

These nurses have had their pay cut from today and nursing unions are advising agency nurses not to make themselves available for work, in opposition to the cuts.

A spokesperson for the HSE said the decision to postpone elective admissions at Cavan General was taken by management as a pre-cautionary measure.