Holles St to lose 9 nurses/midwives

Holles Street Hospital is taking a number of steps to minimise the impact of the retirement of nine midwives and nurses from its service before the end of this month.

Minister of State  at the Department of Health Kathleen Lynch told the Dail the hospital is planning to minimise the impact of these retirements and to ensure the ongoing delivery.

She said some of the nurse/midwife posts being vacated at Holles Street were in the management area and their duties are to be reallocated among other staff.

The Minister said Holles Street is examining options around the reorganisation of wards and rosters to minimise the impact on services to patients.

"Contingency plans and measures are in place at service level and will continue to be refined in advance of the end of February deadline and will focus on staff redeployment, streamlining and cross-cover arrangements."

In addition, revised staff rosters and skill mix options are also being utilised, the Minister said.

She said 9.16 wholetime equivalent midwives and nurses are due to retire from Holles Street by the end of this month.

A number of senior obstetricians in recent weeks have expressed concern about the effect of staff retirments and financial cuts on safe maternity care.

Meanwhile, the Irish Psychiatrtic Nurses Association has warned of 'pandemonium' resulting from the expected retirement of 400 psychiatric nurses from the health servicve by the end of this month.

[Posted: Thu 09/02/2012]