ADC 2013 -"Protecting the Frontline"

17th May 2013

Dear INMO Member,

As I hope you will have seen, through the extensive media coverage it received, the INMO held its 94th annual delegate conference, in Letterkenny, last week.

The conference, which was again attended by over 300 delegates, had, as its theme:  Protecting the Frontline

A comprehensive summary of the conference proceedings, both in the form of written updates and podcasts, can be found on the Organisation’s website (www.inmo.ie).  I would encourage you, and ask you to encourage all other members, to take five minutes and use the website to learn of the range and depth of issues discussed at last week’s conference.

While much of the media focus, on the conference, centred on the issue of public service pay, and the rejected Croke Park 2 proposals, there was, I assure you, great debate, throughout the three days of conference with regard to safe practice, staffing levels and other related matters.  In that regard it is worth noting that the subject matter debated included:

• the emergency motion on public service pay leading to our recommencement of discussions, under the Labour Relations Commission, but also to ballot members, for industrial action, if the government seeks to impose pay cuts;
• the introduction of regulated nurse : patient ratios seeking to have one nurse to four patients during periods of normal activity;
• the establishment of a Review Group, chaired by an independent expert, to examine the midwifery staffing levels, in all maternity units/hospitals, with a view to making recommendations with regard to the midwifery staff required to ensure best practice;
• to develop and strengthen relations with the newly established Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (which now replaces An Bord Altranais) particularly with regard to the development of a competency framework, their greater assistance in ensuring nurses/midwives can practice safely and their full involvement with HIQA inspections;
• the further development, by our Professional Development Centre (PDC), with regard to courses/programmes, tools for workload measurement and our safe practice/legal workshops; and
• a decision to hold a special delegate conference, on 22nd October 2013, to agree rule changes with regard to the election to the Executive Council and other matters.

The conference was also addressed, on Friday, 10th May 2013, by Dr. James Reilly TD, Minister for Health.  In his address Dr. Reilly confirmed that, after extensive discussions with the INMO, the department have now agreed to fill the vacant post of Chief Nursing Officer at the senior level of Assistant Secretary. He also confirmed that the post holder would be on the department’s senior management team.

This is viewed as a most welcome, and positive, development which, for the first time, will see the post of Chief Nursing Officer at the appropriate level, in the department, and in a position to positively influence all policy evaluations, thinking and decision making.

The conference was also addressed by Professor Ray Kinsella from the Smurfit Business School in UCD, and he provided a very thought provoking address with regard to the challenges, facing our health system, and the fact that it must be viewed as an investment, and not a cost, by society.

Further information from ADC here

With kind regards.

Liam Doran
General Secretary