IEHG SIPTU strike statement: Mullingar one of hospitals to be hit

The Ireland East Hospital Group (IEHG) regrets industrial action planned by SIPTU on Thursday, June 20, which will affect patient and client services.

The industrial action is planned to take place at 38 hospitals and healthcare facilities, including Regional Hospital Mullingar, and will involve a significant number of staff who make an essential contribution to the effective running of our hospitals.

Efforts are continuing to try to avoid industrial action today, however, the Ireland East Hospital Group and our hospital have commenced contingency planning with the HSE and SIPTU in order to ensure minimum disruption to patient services, in so far as possible, and to ensure patient dignity, safety and essential daily care remains in place.

Initial feedback from IEHG hospitals this morning shows the services mostly impacted will include;

•Deferral of some elective inpatient procedures

•Significant cancellation of scope procedures

•Reduced outpatient services

•Reduced laboratory services for GPs

•Reduced catering services for both patients and staff

•Reduced operating theatre activity.

The services impacted will vary across the hospital sites.

Emergency Departments: We are asking people to think about all their care and treatment options, the length of time you may be waiting in ED should you not require urgent care and we would ask that people keep our ED services for the patients who need them most. Patients should contact their GP where possible and to consider local Injury units if appropriate.

Patients are being contacted by their local hospital or healthcare facility in the event that their scheduled procedure or service will be affected by the dispute.

While every effort will be made to minimise impact on patients by the staff and management of our hospitals, industrial action involving these essential staff will have a significant impact on services.

The Ireland East Hospital Group will work with the HSE to keep the public informed of any developments that may affect patient services through the HSE social media channels and website – www.hse.ie, as well as update our statements with any specific news regarding our hospitals.