LUNCHTIME PROTESTS will take place outside 28 health centres and hospitals across the State tomorrow as part of the ongoing campaign of industrial action by members of the Impact trade union.
Venues for the protests, which will take place between 12.30pm and 2pm, will include hospitals from Donegal to Kerry and from Galway to Louth.
Impact, which represents about 28,000 health service workers including many administrators in the Health Service Executive (HSE), stepped up their campaign of action yesterday over controversial recruitment restrictions put in place by the HSE.
Its members have been engaged in a work-to-rule for the last fortnight and in an escalation of their campaign yesterday decided not to co-operate with HSE corporate management by not attending meetings or providing details on issues such as employment levels, absenteeism rates, activity levels in A&E, details of delayed discharges, budgetary developments and monthly activity statistics. Impact said its strategy was aimed at affecting HSE bureaucracy rather than patients. It says its action will prevent the HSE accumulating data it uses to make cutbacks.
The lunchtime protests tomorrow are due to take place outside Carlow District Hospital; Cavan General Hospital; Ennis General Hospital; Cork University Hospital; Letterkenny General Hospital; Dr Steeven's Hospital in Dublin where the HSE has its headquarters; Beaumont Hospital; Tallaght Hospital; Cherry Orchard Hospital; Connolly hospital in Blanchardstown; Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe, Co Galway; University College Hospital Galway; Kerry General Hospital; Naas General Hospital; St Canice's in Kilkenny; Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise; Limerick Regional Hospital; Longford Health Centre; Louth County Hospital; Mayo General Hospital; Our Lady's Hospital in Navan; Monaghan General Hospital; Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar; Midland Regional Hospital in Tullamore; Roscommon County Hospital; Sligo General Hospital; Nenagh General Hospital and Wexford General Hospital. The HSE indicated last week it could take disciplinary action against those involved in the dispute. It said it viewed the escalation of the dispute in a most serious light.
Impact said any attempt to penalise members would be responded to swiftly and it said it had indicated to the HSE it was available for talks to try and find a resolution.
However, there was still no sign last night of talks. Sources indicated efforts will be made to get the sides to meet later in the week.