Nurses demand Dublin living allowance

[Posted: Fri 15/09/2000 - www.irishhealth.com]

The Irish Nurses Organisation has called on the government to introduce a living allowance for nurses in Dublin hospitals, in recognition of the high costs which are driving them away from the city’s main hospitals.

The spiralling costs of living, which has forced nurses out of the city, is viewed as a major contributing factor in the current nurse shortage crisis, which has led to ward closures and the cancellation of elective surgery in hospitals throughout Dublin.

At present, a total of 1,200 nursing posts remain vacant in Dublin hospitals but staff shortages have also hit regional hospitals. Cork University Hospital currently has vacancies for 100 nurses, while Limerick Regional has lost 36 nurses in the past two months alone.

The government has taken a number of measures to stem the outflow, including the introduction of qualified Filipino nurses to make up the shortfall.

A total of 70 nurses have arrived to the Mater Hospital, Dublin since June, following several months of preparation in the Philippines by the hospital, according to a report due to be published shortly in the ‘World of Irish Nursing’, Journal of the INO. The last group arrived on August 25 and a further 90 nurses are due to start in November.

The nurses have availed of the so-called ‘Harney’ visa, which allows them to work in the hospital for three months while they complete an assessment period. The nurses must successfully complete the six-week appraisal before they are certified by the hospital and can apply for registration and residency, assistant director of nursing, Una Marren told irishhealth.com.

So far, 56 of the Filipino nurses have already successfully come through the assessment, which will entitle them to register with An Bord Altranais, the licensing body for nurses. The rest of the group is currently at various stages in the evaluation process, according to Ms Marren.

In a bid to further improve conditions for its members, the INO has also urged the government to change the terms of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness to compensate nurses for recent rises in inflation. It has called for a pay hike or a reduction in taxes in order to offset what it sees as a 5% reduction in living standards for its members.

"In this current climate where the country is suffering from an acute shortage of nurses and midwives, it is simply not acceptable or sustainable to suggest they wait until late 2002 for the implementation of any pay rises", said INO general secretary, Liam Doran.

He also rejected the 5.5% increase due to come into effect from October, dismissing it as inadequate. "This problem has severely damaged our members’ confidence in the whole social partnership process", he added.

Anonymous   Posted: 15/05/2007 16:32

What a joke claim? does a house cost a nurse more than the rest of us or what? no it doesnt ,this is just another claim from the greatest moaners in the public service.

Anon  Posted: 15/05/2007 23:01

Nurses in the UK have been getting London Weighting for at least the last 35 years (on top of their salaries). It is well known that it costs more to live in a capital city than outside one and Dublin is even more expensive to live in than London.

Anonymous   Posted: 17/05/2007 09:06

Yes of course it cost more to live in Dublin than elsewhere - but no more for a nurse than any other public/civil servant - so why should a nurse get it and nobody else??

Anonymous2  Posted: 19/05/2007 00:26

Because most public/civil servants get paid more than nurses and do not have to do anti-social hours.

Anonymous   Posted: 01/08/2007 09:07

Thats a pay claim issue and won't sort this 'perceived' discrepancy for a nurse outside Dublin - also do you think nurses are the only staff who work UN-social hours?

Anonymous   Posted: 01/08/2007 11:37

Anonymous2 - What planet are you living on if you think that most public/civil servants earn more than nurses. The entry level for Clerical Officers is about €22k and for Executive Officers (who mostly have a degree) is less than €31k. That's it - very few get allowances, overtime or any other "extras". When you see an "average" civil/public service salary in the media, you have to remember it includes a number of very senior people. I am not complaining about the salaries that civil/public servants earn, just trying to correct a false perception that they all earn high salaries.

To join the discussion, register by clicking here