Proposals for nurse working practices 'off the planet'
Nurses have reacted angrily to reports that management in the health service want to impose widespread work changes to cope with early retirements and cutbacks.
Around 4,300 staff are expected to leave the health service under the early retirement scheme which runs out on Thursday, when changes to pension arrangements take effect.
According to the Irish Times, some of the proposals include a review of flexitime working arrangements, replacing nurses' 12-hour shift arrangements with a six-hour shift pattern, and an extended working day for all therapy-grade staff.
Deputy general secretary of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation Dave Hughes said that it is the first time he has heard any of these plans.
"The issue in the health service is trying to provide safe care at this stage with so few staff, so these ideas are just off the planet altogether," he said.
"This is just at attempt to divert away from the real problem, which is the health service is now running on the goodwill of staff who are working way over and above what can be reasonably expected, just to provide safe care."
