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Fury as 14 nurses let go 04.10.12

NURSES' representatives have warned that patient care will be hit at Letterkenny General Hospital as a result of a decision not to renew the contracts of 14 newly-qualified nurses from Monday.
The INMO said the cost containment proposal by the HSE would result in:

*Reduction of theatre activity by 5 sessions per week;
*Reduction of day surgery by 5 sessions per week;
*Reduction of endoscopy activity by 2 sessions per week;
*Cessation of minor surgery in community outreach clinic;
*Closure of 8 surgical beds on the Orthopaedic Ward; and,
*Closure of Short Stay/Overflow Ward.

“The INMO is now calling on the Minister for Health, Dr James Reilly, to prevent the loss of these frontline posts in order to maintain adequate services to the people of Letterkenny and its environs.
"Discussions must have been on-going for some time within the HSE in respect of this issue. The INMO finds it unacceptable that it has not been consulted in advance of the decision to implement these measures," said INMO spokesperson, Regina Durcan. The group said the move would increase waiting lists, increase trolley waits, reduce nursing presence in outpatient clinics and would likely see the cancellation of clinics.
Inishowen TD., Deputy Charlie McConalogue expressed alarm and fury at the decision.
“These cuts are a direct impact of Minister James Reilly’s complete failure to manage the health budget and prioritise resources where they are most needed.
"Because of the mess he made over the health budget and the fact that he ignored warnings from the highest level of the health service, Minister Reilly is now bulldozing through our frontline health services and putting patients in Donegal at risk," he said.
Meanwhile, the INMO said they would be referring the matter to the Labour Relations Commission citing "breach of the Information and Consultation Directive and the Public Service Agreement".
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