NURSES in the Intensive Care Unit at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) are to be balloted for industrial action to secure safe staffing levels in the unit.
The vote, which is being organised by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) is due to take place over the coming weeks.
INMO Assistant Director of Industrial Relations, Mary Fogarty said that after exhaustive negotiations at local level, they were mandated by members to commence a ballot for industrial action in the Intensive Care Unit at UHL.
“The issues that exist in University Hospital Limerick have been well documented by this union. The lack of consistent safe staffing in the intensive care unit is having a detrimental impact on the physical and mental wellbeing of our members working in this unit and their patients,” she explained.
“Hospital management have failed to provide an appropriate contingency plan to address the nurse deficits in the ICU and the enablement of outstanding annual leave, time off in lieu to be taken and/or paid to nurses as requested.
“A ballot will take place over the coming weeks, and we will notify hospital management of the outcome upon completion,”Ms Fogarty added.
