Limerick hospitals play catch-up on services after averted strikes

COMMUNITY and healthcare services in Limerick and the Mid-West are playing catch-up after 72 hours of strike action were averted following intense Labour Court talks on Monday.

As a result of the strike action on January 30, and on February 5 and 7, a total of 2,433 outpatient appointments were cancelled at University Hospital Limerick, University Maternity Hospital Limerick, St John’s Hospital, Ennis Hospital and Nenagh Hospital.

And since the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) and Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) agreed to suspend strike action, the UL Hospitals Group has made efforts to restore its services back to normality.

A spokesperson said it welcomes the decision to put a halt to industrial action that was planned for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week.

“We are endeavouring to do everything we can to restore normal services across our hospitals.  We have contacted all patients to reschedule outpatient appointments, elective procedures and diagnostics.  Every effort is being made to accommodate these patients where possible. We are prioritising specific appointments to ensure timely rescheduling for those patients who have urgent clinical care needs,” she said. 

In relation to outpatients, a cancellation letter had been sent to patients informing them that if the strike had been called off, they were to attend as scheduled.  

“Some patients were contacted by phone and given the same information. Patients are attending this morning (Tuesday).”

“All theatre lists were reinstated in University Hospital Limerick once we received communication that today’s strike was averted.  All patients planned for surgery today were contacted and advised to come in as planned originally. If for personal reasons they cannot make it, they are being rescheduled for next week.”

She added that a number of trauma cases have been transferred from UHL to Croom.