Good news 90 nursing and midwifery posts secured for mullingar hospital
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has secured 90 nursing and midwifery posts in the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar following negotiations with local management.
The Organisation held a lunchtime protest in January to highlight continued overcrowding and poor staffing levels at the hospital when the numbers of patients on trolleys, both in the ED and throughout the hospital, were at record levels. Subsequently members voted 92% in favour of a work to rule.
The initiatives agreed with management include the following: Additional funding for 39 posts which are in the process of being filled; 10 staff nurses to be recruited for the Emergency Department; 26 staff midwives to be recruited; 15 staff nurses to be recruited for general ward areas; 2015 Nursing Graduates will be offered permanent posts at 100% salary; and, Supernumerary status for CNM2’s.
Furthermore the hospital is committed to:Adherence to the HSE full capacity protocol, and staffing ratio of 1:6 for admitted patients in the ED and ward areas.
It was also agreed that the deployment of the additional recruited staff nurses will be a matter for the Director of Nursing having regard to safe staffing levels and patient care.
Initial interviews for the posts are due to take place on February 23, 2015. Management have agreed to review staffing arrangements, following a reasonable bedding in period, in consultation with the INMO. They will also engage with the INMO with regard to the recommendations of the National Taskforce on Staffing and Skill Mix in Nursing.
The INMO will now put these proposals to members with a recommendation for acceptance.
Speaking today, INMO Industrial Relations Officer, Derek Reilly said the INMO welcomes the commitment to recruit 90 nurses and midwives in Mullingar.
"This is a positive outcome for our members who have continued to struggle with unmanageable workloads on a daily basis due to persistent overcrowding and understaffing.
“We are now calling for these posts to be filled as an absolute priority in the interests of patient care and the nursing/midwifery staff striving to provide that care”.
The INMO will remain vigilant and monitor the full implementation of this agreement.