Industrial action has commenced in Naas General Hospital from today, 28th October 2026, and will run indefinitely, in relation to significant staffing deficits in the hospital.
The action had been suspended following an agreement reached with HSE management on 13th February 2026 after receiving commitments aimed at addressing the significant and ongoing staffing deficits at Naas General Hospital. However, these staffing proposals have not been implemented within the agreed timeframe because of the ongoing impact health service recruitment restrictions, leaving members with no choice but to move forward with industrial action considering serious safety concerns for patients and staff.
The industrial action is aimed at maintaining safe activity levels at the hospital in order to match available staffing levels which are significantly reduced due to the ongoing health service recruitment restrictions.
Industrial Relations Officer for Naas General Hospital Karen McCann said:
It is regrettable that INMO members have been left with no alternative but to take such action in order to safeguard patient safety and protect their own health and safety in the workplace. The staffing crisis at Naas General Hospital is not of INMO members’ making. Nurses cannot reasonably be expected to shoulder the significant risks arising from inadequate staffing levels, including risks to patient safety and to their own professional registration and livelihoods.
INMO members cannot be held responsible for adverse incidents or clinical events arising from unsafe staffing levels and circumstances beyond their control. The responsibility for ensuring that staffing levels are safe and that services operate in accordance with applicable national standards rests with hospital management.
Management are keeping the hospital in a constant state of emergency escalation by placing additional beds, without any regular staffing allocation, throughout the hospital. This is recognised as unsafe, temporary and requires immediate deescalation. This action calls for management to significantly alter activity levels to ensure that the number of patients matches the number of staff who can safely care for them in all clinical areas. It also requires management to warn all patients and the public of the serious safety concerns held by these registered professionals. Management have also been called on to avail of, and organise, all possible healthcare alternatives in the area to reduce the burden on the hospital.
The INMO remains committed to resolving this dispute and securing the necessary staffing resources to ensure the safe delivery of patient care at Naas General Hospital.
ENDS