Galway Advertiser 2007/2007_04_12/GA_1204_E1_008.pdf 

Extracted text

8 N E W S

www.galwayadvertiser.ie

April 12 2007

Don't call us says HSE as management man phones
BY MARY O'CONNOR The Health Service Executive West is appealing to people not to telephone its local public hospitals during the nurses' dispute unless the matter is urgent. The call comes as hospital management are manning telephones and carrying out administrative duties as the nurses' work-torule campaign has entered its 11th day. A spokesperson for the local health authority advised families of patients to nominate a relative who, when visiting, would pass on information about the patient's condition to other family members rather than several people telephoning the hospital. She explained delays are continuing in its hospitals throughout the region. "Across the HSE West, hospitals are seeing delays in their services and processes have slowed down eg, delays in accessing tests and test results. As of this morning [Wednesday] no elective procedures have been deferred at Galway University Hospital." The spokesperson continued that hospital management are keeping the situation under review. "Once again it would be helpful to the hospital and help ensure that patient information is relayed to families if they could

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nominate a relative who, when visiting, can inform other wider family of a patient's status/condition, rather than family members phoning the hospital." Noreen Muldoon, the industrial relations officer with the Irish Nurses' Organisation in the west, says there is a delay in some areas due to the nurses' work-torule action - they are seeking a 10 per cent pay rise and the introduction of a 35hour working week. "To our knowledge there is a slow down in some areas, ie patients going back from theatre. There is a little bit of delay." She says it will be Sunday before it will be known if any of the Galway public hospitals

will be hit as part of the one hour work stoppages which take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays. She outlines that due to the work-to-rule which means nurses are not answering telephones or carrying out administration work - nurses are able to spend more time with patients. "[Nursing] members are finding it great. They are not being interruped when caring for patients. They are doing the job they are qualified to do. They will find it hard to go back to the way things were. Patients are saying to them they are enjoying this time." She says nurses are "very aware" that hospital management

are under pressure as they are answering calls and carrying out other administrative tasks. "We appreciate what they are doing. They are respecting our coordinating committee and nurses. Everything is being done with dignity and respect. Everybody realises this is a dispute that is not locally made." Ms Muldoon stresses nurses will not be satisfied until they get what they want, namely shorter hours and more pay. "I'm optimistic we'll get there. I don't know how long it will take but we are prepared for the long haul."

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