Limerick nurses warn shortages affecting patient safety

Health Minister James O'Reilly is being warned that patients lives are being put at risk because of staff shortages in hospitals around the country.

The message comes from nurses in Limerick as they carry out a four-hour work stoppage this morning in an effort to highlight their concerns about overcrowding at the hospital's emergency department.

On average, more than 30 patients are left on trolleys, awaiting admission, in the Mid Western Regional Hospital's emergency department.

Nurses say staff shortages and bed closures are to blame for the severe overcrowding.

SIPTU Mid-West nursing organiser Jim McGrath called on nurses in other hospitals around the country to take similar action.

He said: "I would request the Minister to lift the moratorium on recruitment of frontline staff…We expect nurses to be leaving the service through early retirement and those nurses will have to be replaced.

"We have requested the Mid West management to look at that as well."