Staff in hospitals in Louth back industrial action

Fórsa members working at the Louth County Group of hospitals have backed industrial action by an overwhelming majority.

The ballot of hospital staff, which concluded today, Thursday 16th March, took place due to an ongoing dispute because of the failure by hospital management to recruit urgently needed staff.

The Louth County Group of hospitals is comprised of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and the Cottage hospital in Drogheda, and Louth County Hospital in Dundalk.

The union saw a turnout of nearly 60% at the ballot, comprising of health and social care professionals (‘HSCPs’), clerical and administrative grades across the hospital group.

Fórsa members backed the action by a margin of 98.4%, securing a mandate to engage in industrial action, up to and including strike action.

 Fórsa official Lynn Coffey said: “This ballot became necessary because Fórsa members are working in unsafe environments as a direct consequence of management inaction.

“Strike action is the action of last resort, but our members have been left with no other choice as demand for services continue to increase, while staff shortages place incredible pressure on staff. It can’t go on.

“Fórsa has continued to raise the issue of declining numbers in these grades and professions since summer 2022.

“Management has failed to replenish exiting staff, seem happy to leave posts vacant and have ignored requests for additional staff made on a business needs basis from teams within the hospital group and Fórsa.

“Understaffing increases the health, safety and welfare risks in the workplace. In a healthcare setting, that risk extends to vulnerable patients. Despite this, management has failed to put in any real measures to protect staff or patients.

"Recruitment drives for other medical professions across the hospitals have delivered good and solid results. New clinical staff need to be backed with the support of Fórsa grades such as Health and Social Care Professional therapy staff as well as administrative staff.

"Management inaction of any real recruitment of these grades has proved to be a serious problem.

“Fórsa members have continued to work within teams and departments experiencing staff shortages, working through breaks, covering vacant posts, and extending their working hours in order to meet the demands of service.

“Service demand across the hospital group has continued to increase. For example, the ambulance by-pass from Our Lady’s hospital has put added pressures onto the system within Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, a system which was already failing.

“While additional nursing staff were provided for to reflect the increase in emergency patients, no corresponding increase in therapist and admin staff has taken place. The whole system is being stretched far too thin,” she said.

Ms Coffey said the union’s representatives will now consider next steps. She said the serving of notice of industrial action was now a matter of “when” not “if” and expects to serve notice in the coming weeks.