Cork:Nurses in Cork vowed yesterday to continue their industrial action until they achieve a satisfactory outcome.
Members of the Irish Nurses' Organisation (INO) and Psychiatric Nurses' Association (PNA) picketed for three hours at Cork University Hospital and the North Lee Mental Health Services. INO industrial relations officer in Cork Michael Dineen reacted angrily to threats to dock nurses' wages during the dispute and said that this would not deter medical staff from continuing with their campaign.
"That [ threat to dock pay] is nonsense. It is totally inappropriate, it is highly provocative and it is a sad day for the health services. You have seen the resolve, you have seen the numbers of our members around here today in absolutely appalling weather conditions." - Olivia Kelleher
Galway:Claims that patients' lives had been endangered by the nurses' work-to-rule were angrily dismissed by those who took part in a stoppage in Galway yesterday. Up to 500 nurses gathered in the rain outside University College Hospital to hear INO president Madeleine Spiers say that nurses were now giving 100 per cent to patients rather than answering phones. This was a reference to the work-to-rule, under which nurses are refusing to deal with non-essential phone calls.
"Even Minister McDowell put more gardaí on the street by taking them off clerical duties. He should speak to Minister Harney," Ms Spiers said.
Outpatient services were not affected by the three-hour stoppage, but 16 surgeries and nine endoscopies were cancelled. - Denise McNamara
Limerick:More than 150 nurses picketed outside the Mid-Western Regional Hospital during a three-hour work stoppage yesterday.
One participant, Patricia Sheehan, has been nursing for 25 years. "We've been working all our lives like small ponies and we're getting no recognition for it. We are professionals and, whatever about the money, we are entitled to a 35-hour week," she said.
Some 38 patients were affected by the action, most of them outpatients. A spokesman for HSE Midwest said that all appointments would be rescheduled before May 31st. - Kathryn Hayes