NURSES' representatives
have warned that patient care will be hit at
Letterkenny General Hospital as a result of a
decision not to renew the contracts of 14
newly-qualified nurses from Monday.
The INMO said the cost containment proposal by the
HSE would result in:
*Reduction of theatre activity by 5 sessions per
week;
*Reduction of day surgery by 5 sessions per week;
*Reduction of endoscopy activity by 2 sessions per
week;
*Cessation of minor surgery in community outreach
clinic;
*Closure of 8 surgical beds on the Orthopaedic Ward;
and,
*Closure of Short Stay/Overflow Ward.
“The INMO is now calling on the Minister for Health,
Dr James Reilly, to prevent the loss of these
frontline posts in order to maintain adequate
services to the people of Letterkenny and its
environs.
"Discussions must have been on-going for some time
within the HSE in respect of this issue. The INMO
finds it unacceptable that it has not been consulted
in advance of the decision to implement these
measures," said INMO spokesperson, Regina
Durcan. The group said the
move would increase waiting lists, increase trolley
waits, reduce nursing presence in outpatient clinics
and would likely see the cancellation of clinics.
Inishowen TD., Deputy Charlie McConalogue expressed
alarm and fury at the decision.
“These cuts are a direct impact of Minister James
Reilly’s complete failure to manage the health
budget and prioritise resources where they are most
needed.
"Because of the mess he made over the health budget
and the fact that he ignored warnings from the
highest level of the health service, Minister Reilly
is now bulldozing through our frontline health
services and putting patients in Donegal at risk,"
he said.
Meanwhile, the INMO said they would be referring the
matter to the Labour Relations Commission citing
"breach of the Information and Consultation
Directive and the Public Service Agreement". |
