THE newly formed Irish Patients' Association wants the Minister for Health, Mr Noonan, to intervene in the threatened national strike by nurses.
The association, which has between 300 and 500 members and says it represents all patients, warned of the risks to patients' welfare if the strike goes ahead as planned on February 10th.
The result of a ballot on industrial action by the Irish Nurses' Organisation is due tomorrow. The main strike aims would include the renegotiation of staff nurses' pay and better terms for early retirement. The organisation last month rejected a £50 million package.