Headlines
Update on the INO
The Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) have promised that, should private hospitals fail to comply with their demands, they too will face work-to-rule conditions by nurses in the coming days.
Baby John Joe Update
Baby John Joe, the baby that has been in serious trouble due, according to his mother, to the failure of nurses to tell her about the results of his initial tests, has been moved to a specialist hospital due to his deterioration.
The Doctors want more too!
Hospital Consultants seem set to reject proposals set by the by the government for new working hours and salaries.
New Vaccine for Kids
A new booster shot is to offered to be children along with the two already in existence. This shot will protect against pneumococcal disease- a bacteria that causes meningitis and pneumonia and also against hepatitis B. This shot will be given at two months and a booster at twelve months. The shot will cost €70 per person and will be paid for by the HSE.
Update on the INO
The Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) have promised that, should private hospitals fail to comply with their demands, they too will face work-to-rule conditions by nurses in the coming days.
Private hospitals have, until now, been exempt from the strike but were served with the same conditions as public hospitals and the INO is now waiting for their reply.
Many bodies are now stating that patient services are beginning to suffer as a result of the strike. John McCormack of the Irish Cancer Society said that patients were having trouble accessing their test results as the nurses were refusing to answer the phones. He claimed that “this incredibly vulnerable group of patients cannot wait for the results of tests and for information of their treatment plan”.
Although the nurses have, at the moment, huge support from the public, one would have to wonder how long this will continue for if patient services begin to suffer. How many people will support them when they personally begin to feel the effects of the work-to-rule?
Sheila O’Connor of Patient Focus is one person that is no longer emphasising with the nurses. “We also want to say to nurses that their main duty of care is to the patient rather than to unions and just because there is a dispute on, it does not alter the duty of care of an individual patient, nor does it alter the ethical standards under which they work”
One woman with diabetes called Liveline on Thursday 5th April to say that she did not receive her weekly blood test as the nurse would not print the label for the sample.
However, the Irish Times reported today that, according to the HSE, the winter vomiting bug is causing more disruption to hospitals than the work-to-rule. They say that, although some hospitals are under strain, none have had to cancel surgery.
It is likely that there is a hidden agenda here though as, with the upcoming election, it is quite possible that Minister Harney is doing some damage control in terms of her public image. Could this crisis ruin Fianna Fáil if it escalates?
Baby John Joe Update
Baby John Joe, the baby that has been in serious trouble due, according to his mother, to the failure of nurses to tell her about the results of his initial tests, has been moved to a specialist hospital due to his deterioration. While the Independent say that it is the case that the blame does in fact fall on the nurses, a letter in the Times from a nurse claims that it is never the duty of a nurse to interpret or deliver test results, that this duty in fact, falls on the doctor.
The Doctors want more too!
Hospital Consultants seem set to reject proposals set by the by the government for new working hours and salaries.
The proposals would raise the consultants working weeks from 33 hours to 39 hours a week and salaries from the €143,000 – €186,000 that it is now to €180,000 – €205,000 a year with a possible performance-related bonus of up to 20 per cent.
Wages would depend on many factors such as contract type, speciality and geographical location. Also whether the doctor works in a public or private hospital. Doctors with limited private practice rights in public and co-located private hospitals would be looking at wages ranging from €160,000 to €185,000 per annum.
Despite the rise in salary, medical bodies say that for many doctors, the changes would actually result in doctors being paid less per hour due to the increase in work load.
And so, it looks likely that the government will fail to reach the deadline of Tuesday week set by the government for the completion of the consultant contract talks. Despite this, Mary Harney is confident that an agreement will be reached and actions similar to that of the nurses do not seem to be on the cards.
My guess is that the government will bend over backwards to the consultants to see that there is not more aggravation called in this time when they are so vulnerable.
New Vaccine for Kids
A new booster shot is to be offered to children along with the two already in existence. This shot will protect against pneumococcal disease- a bacteria that causes meningitis and pneumonia and also against hepatitis B. This shot will be given at two months and a booster at twelve months. The shot will cost €70 per person and will be paid for by the HSE.
Minister for Health Mary Harney, says that the HSE will follow the recommendations of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC).
