Nurses at the Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar, members of the INMO, are seeking an urgent meeting with the HSE to discuss the staffing crisis at the hospital and the effect this is having on patient care, and have expressed fears that the hospital situation is now “unsafe” because of staff shortages
According to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), which held an urgent meeting with members in Mullingar on 23 September, major concern has been expressed about the ‘acute shortage of staff in all areas of the hospital’.
While the HSE is denying that there is a staffing crisis, and say that every effort is being made to recruit and fill posts as quickly as possible, they admit that maintaining staffing levels has been “a challenge”.
However, the INMO members said that the current situation is leading to patient care being compromised. They say that patient overcrowding is now a ‘daily reality’ for all parts of the Mullingar hospital and they claim that the HSE has ‘made no effort to address this unacceptable clinical environment’.
“The INMO spokesperson, Derek Reilly, industrial relations officer, said that the criss situation in Mullingar Hospital is due to a ban on recruitment, which is seriously affecting patient care and staff workloads.
The INMO claims the HSE has now begun cancelling leave at short notice. This is only creating a situation where nurses and midwives are working long hours without a break, or without proper rest, in an overcrowded and clinically dangerous environment,” the INMO claims.
“This is now having a serious and detrimental effect upon patient care and staff workloads. The hospital has put financial considerations above those of patient care, which is totally unacceptable and cannot continue,” Mr. Reilly stated.
He added that nurses and midwives ‘simply want to provide safe, high-quality care to patients, mothers and babies’ at the hospital, but this will only be achieved ‘when management acknowledge the extent of the current crisis and employ additional nursing staff’.
The INMO this week sought an urgent meeting with the HSE, but the HSE denies there is a staffing crisis and said there are plans to recruit 10 permanent and 10 temporary midwives. It engages 30 agency nurses each week, and some will be engaged as permanent directly employed staff.
The HSE admits that retirements, sick leave and unfilled posts have created a challenge, but every effort is made to fill posts. They plan to recruit 10 permanent nursing/midwife posts and 10 temporary nursing/midwife posts. This process is under way, with more advertising to take place in the coming weeks, they say.
The INMO says there is an “acute shortage of staff in all areas of the hospital” and claims essential nursing and midwifery care is being compromised.
