Hospital staff member up at 4am to prepare patients' food before joining strike

There was no rest for Joan Costelloe, a cook employed at University Hospital, who awoke before dawn to prepare “special meals”, for patients unable to eat or swallow hard food.

Later, having joined her Siptu represented co-workers on the union picket line outside the hospital, she said: “I’m up since 4am to get in here to feed those patients. The (special meals) list I got this morning included renal/dialysis, coeliacs, low fats, dairy-free, and then you have the purées, mince moist, and soft meals, as well.”