Coronary Care United nurses at CUH to be balloted for industrial action

Nurses at the Coronary Care Unit at Cork University Hospital are being balloted for industrial action this week.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation says the ballot centres around the staffing of the unit, which cares for acutely unwell patients including people who are in heart failure.

The union says their members are working in a highly pressurised environment which often falls short of providing the recommended ratio of nurses to patients…

The unit should have 24 nurses and frequently has just 17.

Speaking to RedFM News, Colm Porter from the INMO in Cork says the unit is surviving on the good will of staff.

“They’re working extra hours or doing over time, finishing late to ensure that  patient care is being delivered. This is leading to burnout with many of the more experienced nurses, they’re considering leaving and obviously this is having a detrimental impact on their health and safety and well being.

“This is a hugely pressurised situation there at the minute, especially considering the level of acuity of patients that they care for.”