The Irish Nurses' Organisation is to provide free legal aid to any of its 25,000 members who seek compensation for injuries incurred as a result of assault or accidents. It is also to provide them with 24-hour helplines that will offer counselling and legal advice.
The INO's general secretary, Mr Liam Doran, admits the new services are aimed at strengthening membership of the State's largest nursing union on the eve of what could be a major public service pay dispute. Next Tuesday the Labour Court is expected to issue a long-awaited recommendation on revised nurses' salary scales.
Mr Doran says the new services, taken in conjunction with the union's existing medical malpractice insurance scheme, will provide one of the most comprehensive support frameworks available to members of any trade union or professional body in Ireland. The new schemes were "in response to members telling us they are increasingly exposed to injury and assault at work".
The legal aid scheme will also cover claims for injuries arising outside the workplace, such as traffic accidents. Altogether, three services were announced by the union yesterday, all of which come into force from September 1st.
Besides legal insurance cover there will be a 24-hour legal advice helpline for members "on any legal matter, whether it is related to their professional practice or indeed personal issues like property rights", Mr Doran says. The third service will be a counselling and referral helpline for members, or their immediate family, who are suffering trauma or anxiety over heath problems, including work-related stress.
The union already provides members with up to £1.5 million indemnity against medical malpractice claims.
The primary aim of the free legal aid is to make health service management more aware of the risks nurses face at work, Mr Doran says. He believes cases of injury, particularly low-profile cases such as back injuries, are still underreported.