The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has called for the HSE’s Emergency Department Taskforce with ministerial attendance to be convened immediately.
This comes as 360 patients, including 19 children, are without a bed in Irish hospitals two days before Christmas.
INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said:
“The ED Taskforce which has representatives with stakeholders outside of HSE management including trade unions, Department of Health officials, senior clinicians and patient advocates should meet immediately. The Minister for Health should make it his absolute priority to attend.
“The members we represent, and their clinical colleagues are very angry where they have been left to try provide care in really unsafe environments. Nurses, doctors, and all patient-facing staff have been placed in an impossible position because of poor planning on behalf of their employer and the Government. Our members and the patients in their care are dealing with the consequences of a minimalistic, hands-off approach.
“The newly established National Crisis Management Team’s work must be informed by the experiences of those who directly interact with our creaking health service every day, that is why the ED Taskforce must meet urgently.”
ENDS
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