Republican News · Thursday 21 February 2002

Growing crisis in A&E units

Cavan/Monaghan Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin raised in the Dáil last week the situation in the Accident and Emergency units of hospitals that has led to forthcoming strike action by the Irish Nurses Organisation and balloting for industrial action by SIPTU.

Ó Caoláin sought a special debate but this was not granted by the Ceann Comhairle.

"I will continue to raise what is an escalating crisis in the Accident and Emergency Units of our hospitals," Ó Caoláin vowed. "We have impending strike action by the Irish Nurses Organisation and balloting for industrial action by SIPTU, the two unions representing health care workers in the A&E units. It is an indictment of government management of the health services that SIPTU has been moved to describe working conditions in A&E departments as 'war zones'.

"Instead of decisive government action, we have promises on paper in a Health Strategy that has only been published in the dying months of this administration."