THE Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has warned that staffing levels in Ireland’s health service are ‘in free fall’.
The INMO’s executive council will hold an emergency meeting tomorrow to discuss the crisis.
The union pointed to staff rosters t’hey say have been ‘decimated’ by Covid-19 related absences, surging patient numbers, and a lack of childcare for frontline staff.
INMO President and nurse, Karen McGowan, said: “The staffing situation has reached dire levels in many hospitals. I am getting constant reports from colleagues across the country, speaking of wards closing, rosters unfilled, and services under pressure and unmanageable workloads.
“The INMO’s Executive Council need to now evaluate these demands on our members and the personal toll this is taking on them. The government do not seem to understand the severe staffing pressures happening at the moment.”
INMO General Secretary, Phil Ní Sheaghdha, said: “Staffing levels have been in free fall since Christmas. High Covid rates have decimated rosters, while driving up patient numbers. There are now over a thousand Covid-positive patients in our hospitals.
“Our members are highly skilled and totally dedicated, but they are also utterly exhausted and immediate supports must be provided to them.”
Throughout the pandemic, one in 20 COVID cases has been a nurse or midwife.
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