Limerick Nurses Stage Third Stoppage

Nurses in Limerick have engaged in their third work stoppage this morning at 8am.

The nurses at the Mid- Western Regional Hospital in the city said that they were striking against dangerous "overcrowding" in the facility’s accident and emergency department.

Yesterday, the Health Service Executive (HSE) appealed to the nurses not to go through with the plan, while last week the Health Minister said their actions were "unsafe".

Mary Fogarty from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (IMNO) said it is clear that overcrowding is having an impact at the hospital.

According to the IMNO 35 people were awaiting admission from the emergency department this morning.

This is the third stoppage the nurses have staged in the last fortnight.

Tensions in the health service soared two weeks ago when it was revealed that hospitals and other health services would face further cutbacks.

This followed news that the HSE is heading for a €250m overspend by the end of the year.

Minister for Health James Reilly said the HSE is facing "serious challenges" in tackling significant financial overruns.

Meanwhile in the North of the island thousands of health workers are preparing to strike for 24 hours in protest against front-line budget cuts.

The strike, which is expected to begin at midnight tonight, will effect outpatient clinics and elective surgeries. Full emergency cover will provided in the hospitals.

All health workers, except doctors will be affected by the strike.

Patricia McKeown from Unison, said: "The workers are facing some of the worst cuts in their history. They have not been well treated or well served by the government and that is contemptible. The bottom line is that ordinary people are paying."

It is understood that the health budget in the North will face cuts of £2.3bn.

Separately it has been revealed that 84,000 medical accidents were reported last year in Ireland.

The Medical Injuries Alliance is being launched this morning to lobby for patients injured during medical procedures and to campaign for transparency from the medical profession when mistakes are made.

It is also hoped that improvements can be made in patient safety in Irish hospitals and medical settings.

(LB/BMcC)