Nurses at Beaumont Hospital to defer industrial action

Nurses at the Emergency Department at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin have agreed to defer industrial action which was scheduled to commence next week.

Members of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) working at the hospital made the decision after agreement was reached at the Labour Relations Commission.

Management have agreed to increase staffing levels in the department on both days and nights, the union has said.

"They are to continue their efforts to secure additional community beds to address the problem of delayed discharges in the hospital and have agreed to a joint review of the hospital escalation policy," an INMO statement read.

Speaking today, INMO Industrial Relations Officer, Lorraine Monaghan said: "This is a positive outcome for our members in Beaumont ED who have continued to struggle with unmanageable workloads on a daily basis due to persistent overcrowding and understaffing.

"We are pleased that management have agreed to increase staffing levels in the interest of providing a safe level of care to patients in the Emergency Department. All barriers to the recruitment of nurses must now be lifted.

"The INMO has requested the continued involvement of the LRC as this agreement will only last if management’s proposals are implemented in a timely fashion."