Nurses' dispute - symptom of a mismanaged health service
Issued : Monday 16 April, 2007
Cllr McGarry speaking on the nurses' dispute has said we are currently facing a serious escalation. It is the latest problem to befall a Health service which has lurched from crisis to crisis since Mary Harney began her stewardship of the Department of Health.
This government has woefully mismanaged our Health Service, they promised they would tackle the A&E crisis and give out 200,000 extra medical cards. Yet these promises were never delivered. We have unfortunately reached a point where government commitments lack any credibility whatsoever.
Cllr McGarry continued by stating that this government despite the increase in Health funding has completely failed to resolve the nurses' dispute. The Minister for Health has displayed lethargy and ignorance in relation to the critical problems facing these professionals. Nurses and midwifes are amongst the most flexible of public servants who provide essential care to the community on a seven day twenty four hour basis. They are an integral and essential part of our Health services. That is why the governments disinterest in their concerns is so appalling.
Cllr McGarry proceeded to talk about the effects of this dispute. He said that many hospitals are already under severe pressure to maintain services and the disruption from normal services provided by nurses will lead to intensified problems such as longer waiting times at A&E units and the cancellation of elective but often badly needed operations. Any prolonged period of action by nurses will inevitably lead to a rapid deterioration in services.
Cllr McGarry concluded by urging both sides to return to the negotiating table and make one more effort to find a solution. He says that he accepts that this is a difficult issue to which there are no simple answers. It is better however he said to face the nurses' grievances head on and find an acceptable solution as if this situation escalates sadly we will have patients who will suffer as a result of it.
Cllr 
