Building work at a Dublin children's hospital is causing intensive-care patients to be treated in "cramped and totally unsuitable conditions", the Irish Nurses' Organisation has claimed. Frank McNally reports.
The organisation yesterday held an emergency meeting with management at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, to discuss the issue, which it said arose from the temporary amalgamation of two intensive care units.
But describing the talks as unproductive, a spokeswoman said the problems had been ongoing since August, and management had repeatedly failed to resolve staff concerns about working conditions.
The INO has also now asked the Health and Safety Authority to investigate the situation.
In a statement, hospital management acknowledged "added pressure on staff" in recent weeks, while modernisation of the intensive care units took place.
The work had followed the opening of the new operating theatre in August, and was designed to improve access from the ICU to the theatre.