Nurses deserve widespread public support

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Written by Administrator

Wednesday, 14 February 2007

Dear Editor,

I would like to express my support and the support of Sinn Féin for the Irish Nurses Organisation and the Psychiatric Nurses Association who met at a pay rally in Dublin earlier this month

The Irish Nurses Organisation and the Psychiatric Nurses Association deserve widespread public support in their call for their pay claims to be dealt with fairly and properly by health service employers. It is a disgrace that the Health Service Executive, by deliberately delaying its response to the INO/PNA pay claim of last June, has prevented the Labour Court from issuing recommendations.

Members of the INO and the PNA are providing front-line care throughout our hard-pressed health services. Like patients, they feel the adverse affects of the health policy failures of the Government. They deserve the remuneration due to them for the vital work they do.

As tens of thousands of nurses and midwives began balloting last week on a potential campaign of work to rule and withdrawal of labour, I have been notified by the Sinn Fein Dáil leader and Health spokesperson Caoimhghin O Caoláin that he has called on the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and the Minister for Health and Children Mary Harney to ensure that nurses receive the reduced working week and pay improvements which they are seeking.

Nurses and midwives are at the front line of our health services, delivering care to patients in very difficult circumstances because of the gross inadequacy of a health system that successive Governments have failed to reform. Their pay, working conditions and working hours need to be addressed as a matter of priority.

The Irish Nurses Organisation and the Psychiatric Nurses Association are looking for a 35-hour working week and for serious pay anomalies to be addressed. As I am also an employee in the health sector, I fully understand and support their call for these improvements, which are as much about enhanced patient care as they are about better conditions for health service staff. Over-worked nurses cannot be at their best at all times and patient care suffers as a result.

The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and the Minister for Health and Children Mary Harney must ensure fair play for nurses. Improved working conditions for front-line healthcare workers, the recruitment of further essential hospital staff and the provision of additional public hospital beds are all indispensable elements in addressing the crisis in our healthcare system.

The Government should ensure through dialogue with the INO and PNA that their concerns are met and that neither a work to rule nor withdrawal of labour become necessary. The Minister for Health and Children Mary Harney and the Health Service Executive must ensure justice for nurses.

Is Mise,

Cllr Jason Devlin,
Galway East Candidate

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