Ninety two per cent of INMO (Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation) members have voted in favour of strike action today.
The vote was put to members as a result of overcrowding in emergency departments nationwide.
According to the union, they will now serve formal strike notice on the HSE and all health employers today.
The strike action will commence on Tuesday, December 15th with the duration and location to be revealed.
“This action, which will involve strike action, is being taken, in recognition that overcrowding will continue requiring special, sustained measures to be introduced, in our Emergency Departments, to safeguard patient care and the health and well-being of staff,” said INMO General Secretary Liam Doran.
“This campaign is also necessary as a direct result of the failure of Government and health service management, over many years, to recognise this overcrowding crisis and to allocate the necessary resources to properly address it,” Mr. Doran continued.
“Members have had enough, we know patients have had enough and it is now up to Government and management to address these issues in dialogue with us – if this campaign of strike action is to be avoided.”
According to the INMO, there are 339 patients waiting on trolleys in hospitals nationwide today – with 37 of these reportedly at St. Vincent’s University Hospital in Dublin.
