Mullingar hospital plans for industrial action

“We’re haemorrhaging nurses,” said Joe Hoolan, spokesperson Mullingar branch of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, who said out of 95% INMO membership in Mullingar hospital, 70% balloted in favour of industrial action.

Talks with government over pay and recruitment will continue in January as he says the HSE are not competing with nearest neighbours the UK or the private sector in Ireland when it comes to pay, retention of nurses and working conditions.

“There is a staff nursing deficit throughout Mullingar hospital because one, we can’t recruit any staff, and two, we don’t have enough capital,” he said.

“It is an extremely busy hospital with an extremely busy Emergency Department.

“The industrial action will take the form of work to rule and one day stoppages.

It’s exactly what we don’t want at this time of year, but that is what we are left with if the talks in January don’t produce anything different.

“The fact is we have a shortage of nursing staff across all areas in Mullingar hospital. This time last year it was the Emergency Department, but it’s hospital wide, so the situation has worsened.”

Mr Hoolan said industrial action will not commence before the end of January.