by Bernie English
DANGEROUS levels of overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) have been cited as the primary reason why members of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation and SIPTU are to vote for industrial action on January 5.
The ballot comes in the wake of continuous protests from members of the union about conditions at the emergency department at UHL and after a week where the department had the highest number of patients on trolleys and overflow wards in the country.
Nurses are calling for the implementation of “a workable and safe bed management plan for the acute hospitals in Mid-West and an inquiry into “the root causes of the gross overcrowding particularly at the University Hospital Limerick”.
They are also seeking an agreed HSE protocol to allow for the presence of senior clinical decision makers at acute care facilities on a 24 hour basis. They claim that this would significantly improve patient access to diagnostics and their journey through the Emergency Department.
They also want enhanced step down facilities for frail and elderly patients and the recruitment of nurses to fill permanent vacancies within the Acute Hospital Services.
A spokesperson for the union said members are taking the ballot in the light of chronic overcrowding at the UHL emergency department and HSE plans to place additional patients in excess of agreed bed capacity at Ennis and Nenagh hospitals.
Other issues behind the decision are the transfer of medical patients to the orthopaedic hospital in Croom; a critical shortage of qualified nurses throughout the region, as well as the attendant health and safety risks to staff and clinical risks to patients.
The nursing unions claim that 70 to100 additional nurses on permanent contracts are required immediately to bring staffing numbers up to acceptable levels.
A union spokeswoman said that a HSE plan implemented last week was the cause of huge concern, predicting that it will result in “13 additional patients in Ennis Hospital and 14 in Nenagh with no additional nurses and only one doctor on site. Patients awaiting medical reviews will be transferred to the elective orthopaedic hospital in Croom
She said that this would involve putting additional trolleys/beds on in-patient wards, which is a failed plan from previous management team, and promoting a tolerance of 20 admitted patients waiting overnight on trolleys in the UHL emergency department.
“Based on past experiences clogging up the health system with trolleys and additional beds on wards will not address the root cause of emergency department overcrowding”.
The last vote for industrial action in the region saw nurses picketing the hospital on a rota basis.
News of the ballot comes as Health Minister, Leo Varadkar poured cold water on any hope that St John’s hospital in Limerick city might get an upgrade.
A letter from the Minister’s private secretary to the City and County Council, declared the current arrangements for emergency care in the region to be “satisfactory”.
