Two senior cancer specialists say they are firmly convinced that if the nurses' strike proceeds on Tuesday next it may hasten the death of some patients.
The President of the Irish Society of Medical Oncology, Dr Desmond N. Carney and the society's Secretary, Dr John P. Crown, say the strike "will result in substantial physical and psychological suffering" for many patients with cancer and "may hasten the death of others".
In a letter to The Irish Times they urge the Government "to enter into speedy and conclusive negotiations with the representatives of the nurses, both in an attempt to avoid the disaster which we are facing next week, and to solve the long-term structural problems of the profession".
Health service managers said yesterday they were not yet able to guarantee "a safe environment in hospitals" if the strike went ahead. Mr Gerard Barry, of the Health Services Employers' Agency, said he acknowledged that "some progress" was being made in discussions on emergency cover at hospital and health board level.
Health boards have warned that many outpatient services will be cancelled from Monday. Some elective (non-emergency) surgery admissions have already been cancelled, where the patients would still be recovering from the operation in hospital on Tuesday.
Seriously ill patients have been guaranteed care by management and unions. Nurses' unions said last night they had also instructed their members to co-operate with many key cancer treatments. However, the Mater Hospital has warned that oncology services will be "severely restricted".
Cardiology out-patient services have been guaranteed in some hospitals if the strike goes ahead.
Mr Liam Doran, of the Irish Nurses' Organisation, accepted last night there would be delays in some treatments because of the action, a situation which he described as "appalling". However, he stressed nurses would assist with any treatment which consultants deemed necessary for emergency care.
The Minister for Health, Mr Cowen, indicated last night that the Government would not enter dialogue with nurses before Tuesday. He said the implementation of the Nursing Commission's report, combined with the Labour Court recommendations and continuing broader discussions with public service unions about pay, "provide enough scope to address the nursing issues, both pay and non-pay, in a reasonable way".
