Nurses at Dublin's Mater Hospital began working under protest yesterday over what they claimed were changes to their car parking arrangements
The Irish Nurses Organisation said members were being refused access to the hospital car-park at Eccles Street and now had to travel another half mile to Dalymount car-park.
It said it had concerns about security when walking back to Dalymount after a late shift.
The INO said the change was without consultation and it has sought an urgent meeting with management.
The hospital said health and safety risks necessitated more rigorous management of the Mater's main 450 space car-park on Eccles Street.
"The risks are caused by capacity issues owing to the increasing number of car users amongst the staff of the Mater Hospital. Once the car-park, which operates on a 'first come, first served basis', has reached capacity all car-pass holders are asked to avail of the hospital's overflow car parking facility in Dalymount which has operated successfully for the last 3 years. The new arrangements apply equally to all car-pass holders at the hospital," it said.