An industrial dispute yesterday hit ambulance services at one of the State's largest general hospitals.
Ambulance crews at the 202-bed St Luke's Hospital in Kilkenny, which serves Kilkenny and Carlow, responded to 999 calls only in protest over changes in working conditions that they say have been forced on them by the South Eastern Health Board.
The emergency medical technicians said the unofficial strike action was brought on by a health board decision to privatise runs to Dublin with non-emergency patients from the region.
Until February 28th, ambulance crews in the region brought patients to Dublin for non-emergency services. These runs by ambulance crews attached to Saint Luke's ceased on Friday.
Mr Bill Mulcahy of SIPTU said the crews were taking action reluctantly, adding that, on Tuesday, his members were advised of substantial changes to their terms of employment. He claimed they had a brief meeting on Friday, where they were told the health board would not negotiate with SIPTU on the change.
SIPTU said the cut in Dublin runs would affect working hours and could affect jobs.