Hospital chaos looms as INMO and Fórsa vote in favour of Christmas strike

Imno, Forsa, and Siptu members outside Cork University Hospital last month during a lunchtime protest over staffing shortages and the impact of the recruitment freeze. Picture: Chani Anderson

Patients could face chaos this Christmas after unions voted in favour of industrial action — even as the present cold snap is putting greater pressure on already overcrowded hospitals.

Yesterday morning, 11 people aged over 75 were waiting on trolleys for more than 24 hours around the country.