NURSES at University College Hospital in Galway confirmed yesterday they had served two weeks' notice of industrial action in protest over problems at the casualty department.
Patients are being kept there overnight on trolleys or for long periods pending admission.
A SIPTU spokeswoman, Ms Helen Murphy, said they had lost patience with the Western Health Board and were pursuing the action in the interests of patients.
The 250 nurses, who are members of SIPTU, have served notice to management of the action from Friday March 29th.
About 100 nurses who are members of the Irish Nurses Organisation at the hospital have indicated they will support the SIPTU action.
On one night recently 22 people had to be kept on trolleys awaiting admission, which in their view had prevented the unit operating as a casualty department.
Over the past year 300 people have had to be kept on trolleys overnight because of the lack of beds at UCHG.
The action will initially involve a 12 hour withdrawal of nursing services followed by a work to rule. "If there is no progress we will review our position on a daily basis with a view to escalating the dispute," she said.
Ms Murphy declined to comment on a report that they may withdraw emergency cover because of the "intolerable strain" their members are working under dirt casualty.
"In our view management is not tackling the problem. We are not going to allow the situation continue, especially when there are 40 `closed beds' available at Merlin Park Hospital in the city."
UCHG negotiated a settlement recently of industrial action by junior doctors who claimed there was insufficient medical cover in casualty. This allowed for the creation of two extra medical posts. Work on a new unit is due to start later this year.
A management spokesman was not available for comment but the Western Health Board has declined to comment on industrial relations matters in the past. The Minister for Health, Mr Noonan, last week repeated his view that the difficulties at UCHG casualty unit were not primarily due to a lack of resources.
Representatives of the general workers at UCHG, who are SIPTU members, met yesterday to consider supporting the nurses' action.