Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

In December, I also stood with staff and protested with them as they highlighted what they described as a third world service caused by lack of resources and capacity in the hospital and I listened to their pleading for more resources. At that time staff told me that there were 60 health and social care professionals vacancy deficits as it is, never mind bringing Our Lady's Hospital in Navan on board. There are 15 to 20 current deficits in clerical and approximately seven in emergency departments alone. There are times where there are only two staff members to cover the night shift. The staff told me that they cannot go on breaks, go for food and, at times, they cannot even get to the bathroom. That is the stage at which they described the service they are providing as a Third World service.

Those same staff are so stressed and overworked that, if things do not change, it could end in industrial action. They are the last people who want to see that. Such are the stress levels, the staff shortages and the shortages of resources that they may have no choice.

It is not just nurses but it is health and social care professionals, together with clerical and administrative grades across the hospital group. When there is a problem in staffing levels in one area there’s a knock-on effect in others, as the Minister knows well.

When those staff talk to their college friends or former work colleagues who emigrated overseas and hear of the much better conditions there, who can blame some of them for packing it in and leaving?

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