The rescheduled opening today of the new €75 million Cork University Maternity Hospital was hanging in the balance last night as some 250 midwives met to consider a series of revised proposals from the Health Service Executive (HSE) on staffing levels.
Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) general secretary Liam Doran presented the revised proposals to midwives from the Erinville, St Finbarr's and Bon Secours hospitals last night, following more than four hours of negotiations with HSE South management yesterday afternoon.
Although both sides were remaining tight-lipped on the proposals, The Irish Timesunderstands that Mr Doran brought a detailed five-page letter from the HSE to the meeting.
The letter from HSE assistant national director of human resources Barry O'Brien reiterated the HSE's commitment to fulfilling the Labour Court recommendation in all its aspects, with a particular emphasis on staffing levels.
The HSE letter stressed that hospital management was fully committed to building up to a full complement of 375 midwives and nurses as recommended by the Labour Court within a very short timeframe. The Irish Times understands that the letter also pointed to advertisements placed in papers yesterday for additional midwifery staff while it also emphasised the HSE's commitment to providing support staff.
The HSE outlined in the letter how it was providing enhanced additional resources, such as increased clerical and porter staff, which would allow midwives to concentrate on their primary role of attending to mothers and their babies.
