Galway nurses have refused to rule out the possibility of taking further industrial action, after Monday's lunchtime protest outside UHG.

Industrial Relations Officer for the Irish Nurses Organisation, the INO, Noreen Muldoon with her grandson Jaime Clarke (2), from Monivea, and Margret O'Donoghue from the INO, protesting outside University Hospital Galway at lunchtime on Monday for a 37.5 hour working week. Photo: Alan Gallagher

Almost 100 nurses took to the pavements to campaign for the implementation of a shorter working week of 37.5 hours, which has been introduced in all but a minority of hospitals nationally.

Of all the hospitals in the West, University Hospital Galway and Merlin Park Hospital are the only two to have failed to meet the June deadline for implementing the new work conditions.

This has been blamed on the HSE recruitment freeze, which has prevented the hospitals from hiring the additional staff needed. To reduce working hours at the hospitals, it is thought that approximately 13 additional staff would have to be hired.

However due to budget restrictions, this has not gone ahead and frustrated nurses have vowed to continue with work stoppages until the commitment is honoured.

A spokesperson for HSE West said they are making every effort to introduce the new working week, and had entered into talks with the Labour Relations Commission on the issue.

"Galway University Hospitals are committed to implementing the nationally agreed 37.5 hour working week for all nurses and midwives.

"Hospital management are currently in discussions with nursing unions with the assistance of the Labour Relations Commission to effect its introduction within the agreed national parameters with a view to having the new rosters in place at the earliest opportunities," they said.

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