An emergency motion on the implications for patients and staff of the proposed cutbacks in health services will be debated this morning by delegates attending the annual conference of the Irish Nurses' Organisation which is taking place in Galway.
Last night, delegates in private session gave numerous examples of the difficulties nurses and patients now encounter in delivering and accessing quality care. They contended the situation is now "past critical".
Examples given included the daily occurrence of patients on trolleys in Accident and Emergency departments and the decision of one health board in the Dublin area to cut 600 hours per week from one area's home help service. A national review of maternity services will be also be sought today.
The INO's General Secretary, Mr Liam Doran, said it also emerged yesterday, that Cork's Mercy Hospital is to close a surgical ward for the summer months and James Connolly Memorial Hospital in Blanchardstown Dublin indicated it was going to cancel all elective admissions indefinitely from tomorrow.
Delegates will also debate a motion calling for flying medical squads to be established to cover regions where casualty units are to be reduced or withdrawn due to changes in training requirements for medical staff.
The crisis facing Dublin's five academic teaching hospitals, which announced on Tuesday that they will close 250 beds as a result of an €87 million funding shortfall, will also be debated.
Nursing delegates will call on the Department of Health to fund empty nursing home beds to facilitate the early discharge of patients awaiting long term care.
Furthermore, they want better community supports for the elderly, including more community nurses, and the appointment of social workers specifically to deal with the growing population of elderly people.
Delegates will also urge Government to fully fund "in a planned and transparent way" the implementation of all recommendations in the national health strategy, published in November 2001.
Reports commissioned by the Department of Health, due to be published shortly, are expected to address some of these issues. Some 350 delegates are attending the conference and they will be addressed by the Minister for Health, Mr Martin tomorrow.