Patients leaving strike-hit home

Patients at a Co Clare nursing home have been given one week's notice to find alternative accommodation because of an industrial dispute at the home.

Last Wednesday week staff at Cappahard Nursing Home in Ennis took to the picket line over pay and conditions as well as the right to be members of a union.

After a "For sale" sign was placed outside the home last Wednesday, the 30 remaining patients were told they had seven days to find alternative accommodation.

The SIPTU branch secretary, Ms Mary O'Donnell, described seeing distressed patients leaving the home over the past number of days.

She said: "I don't see any reason for it. It is very sad. The nursing staff have built up personal relationships with the patients."

According to a spokesperson for the Mid Western Health Board, 14 days notice is the minimum requirement under nursing home regulations.

Ms O'Donnell said the nurses had been directly involved in the care of the residents and were worried about the lack of professional care now available to them. "As we understand it, the home is now being kept ticking over by volunteers, most of whom have no training or experience in the job of caring for patients and residents."

Ms O'Donnell claimed that the industrial action was forced upon them. "The nurses, care attendants and catering staff did not take this decision lightly. It was only after a very protracted period of living with a total lack of respect and the refusal of management to deal with them through their selected representatives that they felt they had no choice but to take the action they have done."

According to Ms O'Donnell, the Labour Relations Commission has contacted both sides and offered its services to resolve the nine-day dispute.

However, Ms O'Donnell said last night: "We remain in dispute and at the moment there is little hope of a solution."

No one was for to comment for the nursing home last night.