Naas Hospital nurses pause industrial action after securing agreement for 90 posts

THE IRISH Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has suspended its industrial action in Naas General Hospital after securing a total of 90 posts in the hospital.

Nurses at Naas General Hospital took industrial action in the form of a work-to-rule last week after the HSE failed to fill maternity-leave vacancies, as well as to increase staffing to meet an over 25% increase in Emergency Department attendance at the hospital in the past three years.

Lunchtime protests at the hospital took place on Monday, 9 February and Friday, 13 February, attended by nurses and INMO representatives.

Nurses described working well beyond their contracted duties on a daily basis, performing unrelated administrative work and working longer than their contracted hours.

Aine Julian, a clinical nurse manager with more than 20 years’ experience at the hospital, said conditions had deteriorated significantly in recent months.

She described patients being placed in unsuitable areas due to overcrowding, including family day rooms converted into makeshift wards.

“We’ve had day rooms where couches and tables were pulled out and three patients put in there,” she said. “There are no call bells and no facilities for patients to wash their hands. It’s appalling.”

Aine said wards designed for 31 patients were now accommodating up to 36 without additional nursing staff.

“We pride ourselves on delivering excellent nursing care, but it’s very hard when you’re stretched to the limit and more is asked of you every day,” she said.

“Patient care remains our priority,” she said, “but we’re propping up the system, and there has to be an end to that.”

She also pointed to rapid population growth across Kildare, which is increasing demand on the hospital.

“We have an expanding Kildare area with a lot of people who are moving out of Dublin into Sallins and Clane, and they’re looking to access the hospital as well. But there’s no forward thinking, there’s no planning into increasing the capacity inside.”

INMO Industrial Relations Officer, Karen McCann, said: “The HSE is basically run on the goodwill of nurses, coming in early, finishing late, not getting their breaks. This action brings them back to what they should be doing.”

“What we’re looking for is for staffing deficits to be addressed and for any expansion of services to be paused until those deficits are resolved,” she said.

“The goal is to make Naas General Hospital a safe place for staff and patients.”

Ms McCann added that frustration among staff had built over several years without progress.

“They didn’t take this decision lightly,” she said. “They’re burnt out and feel they haven’t been heard, but they are united and will continue until a solution is reached.”

A spokesperson from HSE Dublin and Midlands said: “The HSE fully recognises and sincerely appreciates the continued professionalism, flexibility and commitment shown by staff at Naas General Hospital.”

After the lunchtime protest on Friday 13 February, the INMO announced that it had suspended its work-to-rule following “lengthy negotiations this week with management”. An INMO spokesperson said: “The INMO has secured the immediate backfilled of 60 vacant nursing posts. These offers will come from existing panels.

“The union has also secured an additional thirty new posts to cover additional services.

“A full review of all nurse staffing will begin at the hospital this week against the safe staffing framework.

“The nurses in Naas General Hospital appreciate the immense amount of support they received from the public in Naas and the wider Kildare area this week, particularly during lunch time protests.

“The dispute committee at Naas General Hospital have recommended that members are balloted on proposals next week.”