Nurses at St Ita's Hospital for Elderly People in Newcastle West, Co Limerick, staged a work-to-rule yesterday in support of demands for increased staffing levels. The Mid Western Health Board described their action as being in breach of agreed dispute procedures and the industrial peace clause of Partnership 2000.
The 50 nurses, who are members of SIPTU and the INO, claim there is only one nurse and an attendant on night duty for 50 patients. There are 140 patients in the hospital.
The health board points out that the nurses are seeking a 25 per cent increase in staff even though patient numbers in the hospital have decreased significantly over the past few years.