
It is holding an emergency meeting of nurse managers later today
Around 50 nursing posts are unavailable to cover frontline services in Naas General Hospital.
That's according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.
It is holding an emergency meeting of nurse managers later today, after receiving what is says are "warnings from staff about unsafe clinical environments and staffing levels."
The INMO adds that Naas General Hospital management "failed" at a recent meeting to "produce realistic proposals to address the staffing deficits on front line rosters. "
Nurses, the organisation says, had expected a review of services, a consolidating of rosters and a stablisation of clinical environments.
Its Industrial Relations Officer, Joe Hoolan, says “Our members should not have to ask management to provide a safe environment, and patients deserve to be cared for with safe staffing levels.
"It is not acceptable that management would propose to keep all services fully open while wards, specialist units and Intensive Care Units are left short staffed.
"The INMO again call on hospital management to examine how to stabilise clinical areas, reduce the risk to staff and patients, and temporarily close non-essential services if necessary."