Nurses plan protests on hospital staffing issue

NURSES at Roscommon General Hospital will take industrial action in two weeks' time unless progress is made in dealing with overcrowding…

NURSES at Roscommon General Hospital will take industrial action in two weeks' time unless progress is made in dealing with overcrowding and under staffing at the hospital.

The action will include banning clerical and administrative work, and a rolling series of protests, starting with two hours a day and building up to a two day protest, according to Ms Janet Hughes, regional secretary of SIPTU, which represents nurses in the hospital.

The union is meeting politicians from the area today to seek their support.

Ms Hughes said the problem arose because Roscommon has an aging population which requires an increasing amount of health care. When in hospital patients need much more intensive nursing than younger patients, placing increased pressure on staff.