20/08/2009

Ambulance Strike Postponded

While there was good news overnight as ambulance drivers in north Tipperary called off a strike that was due to start at midnight, it has emerged that hospital 'trolley waits' are increasing.

According to the latest count from the Irish Nurses Organisation, there are at least 171 patients sleeping on hospital trolleys in Irish hospitals today,

The union said the worst offender is Beaumont Hospital in Dublin with 33 patients. Nineteen are on trolleys in Dublin's Mater Hospital, 16 in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda and 14 in the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Dooradoyle, Limerick.

Figures for Monaghan General Hospital are not available

The figures are bad news for the Health Service Executive (HSE), although the postponed strike action, which would have affected Nenagh, Thurles and Roscrea has given senior executives a breathing space.

The row centres on a dispute with the HSE over the introduction of new work practices.

Instead of the strike, talks are due to get underway at the Labour Relations Commission next week in an effort to resolve the dispute.

However, the union SIPTU is warning that the industrial action will be reintroduced if the talks fail.

In a separate development, the Department of Health has reportedly instructed the HSE to draw up plans for up to €800m worth of cutbacks next year.

Reports this morning said the department has asked them to assess how services would be affected by spending cuts ranging from €400m to €800m.

(BMcC/KMcA)

Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

08 January 2016
INMO Holds Meeting Ahead Of Planned Strike Action
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has held a national meeting to discuss the organisation's planned strike action next week. At the discussion, INMO Emergency Department (ED) Representatives were instructed to continue with industrial action at seven hospitals next Thursday, 14 January.
13 June 2013
Protection Of Life During Pregnancy Bill Published
The Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill has been published by the government following approval by the Cabinet. Several significant changes have been made to the outline of the Bill, which was published in April. The Minister for Health will be given the power to stop suspended an institution if deemed to be operating the Act inappropriately.
05 July 2019
Treatment Of Young Doctors Raised With Govt
The crisis surrounding how young hospital doctors are trained, recruited and treated has prompted demands for government to act. The Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD raised the issue after the Medical Council's Your Training Survey uncovered problems regarding long working hours and bullying in the workplace.
12 August 2011
Tallaght Patient Died On Hospital Trolley
A man died while on a hospital trolley awaiting a doctor. Today, a verdict of death due to natural causes has been recorded after an inquest into the death of a patient at Tallaght Hospital Emergency Department.
02 December 2016
Over 9,300 Patients Wait For Hospital Beds
New figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has revealed over 9,300 hospital patients were waiting for a trolley in November, the worst figure since counting began. Overall, 85,731 patients had been admitted for in-patient care in the first 11 months of 2016 but were left on trolleys as no beds were available.