Nurses to resist HSE saving measures

on 31/08/2012 07:16:37

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation says it will resist new cost saving measures announced yesterday by the HSE as they jeopardise patient safety.

The Health Service Executive says it plans to impose €130m worth of cuts between now and December in an effort to reduce its budget deficit of €259m.

The plans include cutting the use of agency staff by 50%, cutting overtime by 10% and reducing home help hours by 5.5%.

General Secretary of the INMO Liam Doran says his members will make sure to let management know exactly how these plans are affecting patient safety on the ground.

"We're going to direct all of our members on a daily basis to identify risk, record risk, and make that risk known to their employers and consultant staff.

"We cannot have a situation where you cut the number of nurses, midwives and support staff in a ward and at the same time have consultants and other managers think you can maintain the same quality of service."