Lunchtime protest by health staff at local hospital

Fórsa, INMO and SIPTU members are to take part in lunchtime protest at Regional Hospital Mullingar on Thursday.

The lunchtime protest, organised by Fórsa, the INMO and Siptu, continues a series of protests by health workers, organised in response to the HSE's suppression of thousands of health posts.

Fórsa has said that the suppression of these health posts is adversely affecting services to older people, in addition to community and acute services and mental health services.

Thursday's protest in Mullingar, starting at 12.30pm, follows protests in Cavan, Cork, Clonmel, Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Kilkenny, Letterkenny, Offaly, Sligo, Tralee and Tuam while more protests are planned for Portlaoise and Dublin next week.

Fórsa members at HSE employments across the country have been voting in a ballot for industrial action since mid-October. The ballot concludes next Tuesday.

The union has said current pressures on services are set to get worse as demand rises in the winter months, while existing staff are forced to cope with an insufficient complement of staff in most departments.

Olajide Ogidan, an official with Fórsa’s Health & Welfare division, said continuing employment restrictions are putting patient services under enormous strain: “Our extensive survey of Fórsa members in health revealed the real struggles they are facing to deliver services.

“Waiting lists continue to grow, and it’s having a significant impact on both our members and on the people of Westmeath who rely on our health services.

“Our members have spoken clearly. This situation can’t be allowed to continue. Members are balloting now on industrial action because the HSE won’t engage with us. From Mullingar tomorrow we will send another reminder to the HSE that our members' ability to deliver safe services has been severely compromised. When we stand together our voices can’t be ignored,” he said.