Over 250 healthcare workers protest at Tipperary hospital over HSE staff shortages

More than 250 Tipperary healthcare workers protested at Tipperary University Hospital in Clonmel at lunchtime today (Thursday, October 24) over the HSE's failure to fill thousands of vacant posts in the health services across the country.

Fórsa, SIPTU and INMO trade unions members ranging from nurses, care assistants, speech and language therapists, cleaning and administrative staff to porters, physiotherapists and catering workers, took part in the hour-long picket at the hospital's entrance on the Western Road.

Their union representatives highlighted how the failure to fill front line posts is putting huge stress on existing staff and putting patient services under strain.

Fórsa's Tipperary South Health & Community Branch Chairperson Colette O'Connell spoke of healthcare workers suffering burn out because of the intense pressures they are under covering for unfilled vacant posts and staff on sick leave.  Very experienced staff with over 30 years experience were saying they had enough, she said.

Irish Nurses & Midwives Organisation (INMO) Industrial Relations Officer Liam Conway said more than 50 nursing and midwifery posts are currently unfilled at Tipperary University Hospital. “We have significant vacancies on the wards and in the Emergency Department. The reality is we will have to close beds in Clonmel in the new year if we don't get an increase in staffing,” he warned.

SIPTU represents porters, catering, cleaning and surgical instrument cleaning staff at Tipperary University Hospital. Stephen Brady, a SIPTU Shop Steward at the hospital, highlighted how the HSE was spending a “fortune” bringing in temporary agency workers to fill the gap left by unfilled vacant posts.

As well as the huge cost, he highlighted this dependency on agency staffing was adding to the already heavy work load and stress of existing staff as they have to constantly train up different agency workers on top of their own duties. He said their members want permanent staff to be recruited to fill vacant posts.

The lunchtime picket was the latest in a series of protests around the country by healthcare workers over chronic staff shortages in recent weeks with more planned in the coming weeks. 

Fórsa and INMO members are currently being balloted for industrial action up to and including strike action in response to what they describe as the HSE's “suppression of of thousands of frontline health posts”.

Read more detailed report with photos in next week's edition of The Nationalist on sale in local shops next Wednesday, October 30.