Dublin: If the government and the HSE do not intervene strongly in matters including recruitment, the INMO annual conference has indicated that it will face a massive strike in the health sector. INMO and its thousands of members are dissatisfied with the slowness of government systems, according to discussions at the annual conference.
The union representatives unanimously decided to go on strike if the measures, including the appointment of more employees, were not implemented by September. The meeting also passed a resolution authorising the organisation to make this decision.
There should be a staff pattern.
The majority of members demanded that tough measures be taken to address the staff shortage. The members demanded that clear and strict rules regarding the staffing pattern be established and enforced. Members emphasised that this is something that the organisation has been requesting since 2019. Neither the HSE nor the government have learned anything from last winter’s terrifying lessons.
Culpable failure.
By not appointing enough staff, the government and the HSE are causing a criminal delay in this regard. The conference delegates unanimously said that there should be a law regarding the staffing pattern.
The new HSE chief executive, Bernard Gloster, has said plans will be in place by the end of the month to tackle emergency department (ED) overcrowding and waiting. But he also stated that, due to the congestion in the hospitals, it is not possible to say when and how it will be implemented. He also mentioned that there will be no winter plan this year.
HSE said nothing.
He revealed that Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has announced an additional €25 million for nurse recruitment and that the Minister will make an announcement in this regard at the conference today. Geraldine Shaw will join the HSE’s senior leadership team, according to Dr. Gloster, Director of Nursing and Midwifery Service.
He did not, however, respond to the survey report that the majority of nurses want to travel abroad or leave the field. He did not propose any solutions to the hospital’s overcrowding or long wait times.
INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha welcomed the announcement on nurse recruitment but said more clarity was needed on the matter and better plans to ensure the safety of patients and staff. She said she would meet with Gloster and Minister Donnelly in this regard.
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