The INMO Annual Delegate conference have passed a motion mandating the Executive Council of the INMO, in the absence of sufficient progress on safe staffing, to commence a ballot of all members for industrial action in mid-September 2023.
Speaking on the motion nurses and midwives from across the country spoke out against the lack of action on making safe staffing a reality across each hospital.
Sarah Meagher, an Emergency Department Nurse said:
“Nurses and midwives have waited long enough for legislated safe nurse and midwife staffing. We need to ensure at each healthcare facility has safe and effective staffing in place so we can provide the excellent safe care that we have been trained to provide. Staff are leaving because they cannot face working in locations with inappropriate staffing, in unsafe environments.
“If the Government does not act immediately and engage with the INMO on legislated safe nurse staffing, we will be putting this issue directly to our members in the form of balloting for industrial action.
Lynda Moore, a midwife in Cork University Maternity Hospital said:
“The HSE and successive governments have failed to realise the National Maternity Strategy. A lack of safe staffing in our maternity units is making it both difficult to recruit and retain midwives and provide specialised care to women who need it.
“Without safe staffing in our maternity units, it will be impossible to fully realise the National Maternity Stragegy and allow women more choice in their care pathways.”
