Nurses at Killarney Community Hospital have voted in favour of industrial action over plans to change nurse management structures within the hospital, which will result in the elimination of the director of nursing post from April 24th.
Members of the Irish Nurses Organisation, employed within Killarney Community Hospital today voted unanimously in favour of a one hour work-stoppage, which will take place at lunchtime on April 27th.
Speaking today Michael Dineen, INO Industrial Relations Officer, said the position of director of nursing has primacy within nurse management structures and is at the very core of an efficient operation of any hospital.
“The decision to unilaterally remove this post within Killarney Community Hospital has been taken without recourse to any clinical or nursing evaluation of the consequences of its elimination on the hospital, its patients and staff,” he added.
Mr Dinnen also said the changes in nurse management structures “have been imposed upon our members without recourse to prior consultation or negotiation despite the fact that this organisation had sought a deferral of the changes to allow consultation to take place”.