Nursing staff at University College Hospital in Galway have warned that a major confrontation is looming after they failed to resolve their dispute with hospital management over the closure of two wards and a theatre yesterday.
The seventh day of talks between management and unions failed to resolve the crisis, after UCHG management rejected a final proposal from the unions which involved halving the number of bed closures (57) and not closing the two wards. On Thursday night management offered to close the St Pius medical ward and a theatre immediately, and to spend the next week consulting with staff in an effort to avoid the closure of the second ward. This was rejected out of hand by the unions yesterday.
The branch secretary of SIPTU, Mr Michael Kilcoyne, said his union members would not co-operate in any way with the closure of the two wards, which was first announced by hospital management as a response to a £1.5 million budgetary crisis last Friday.
Mr Kilcoyne said the SIPTU members would refuse to move patients or furniture or equipment out of the two wards. A work-torule is already in operation at UCHG.
In the event that the two wards are closed down, they will refuse to carry out non-nursing duties such as answering telephones.
"SIPTU nurses intend to keep the two wards at the hospital open and have appealed to the community for their support", said Mr Kilcoyne.
Last Friday Western Health Board management announced the decision to close down a medical and urology ward at the hospital, representing the loss of some 57 beds, and a surgical theatre until January 1st next.
Staff have warned that the ward closures will result in the loss of more than 40 temporary nursing staff, but UCHG management is hopeful that negotiations can help avoid any staff lay-offs.