Nurses decline further 'bootcamp' cuts

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has said it is not interested in taking part in a "HSE bootcamp".

The union said it was too early to say whether it would ballot its members on industrial action after details emerged yesterday of a series of new cost-cutting measures.

The new proposals include a longer working week and a reduction in overtime payments. The HSE is attempting to rein in a €500m deficit this year.

INMO industrial relations officer Patsy Doyle said nurses and midwives had suffered enough cuts.

"We have done our part…At this stage, they're proposing some kind of HSE boot camp (and) we certainly don’t see that as the way forward."