Inmo seeks cancellation of elective admissions in january 2015

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation(INMO) has called for a cancellation of all elective admissions planned at acute hospitals for the month of January 2015.

The call was made today at the first meeting of the Emergency Department Taskforce, which was established by the Minister for Health Leo Varadkar.

The INMO said the call was made in the context of the worst level of ED overcrowding, coupled with the highest number of delayed discharges, in over ten years.

The INMO welcomed the establishment of this ED Taskforce by the Minister. It said it demonstrated an awareness of the crisis which now exists and a commitment to identify, and implement changes to alleviate the current unsafe environment for patients and staff in ED departments.

At today’s taskforce meeting, which was attended by all health service unions and senior management from all areas of the HSE, a range of issues were discussed including; The need for additional bed capacity (acute and non-acute); the recruitment, through special initiatives, of additional frontline staff; changed work practices in ED Departments, including the appointment of a significant number of Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANPs); extended attendance patterns for senior clinical decision makers; and improved procedures re discharge planning.

In calling for the cancellation of all planned elective admissions in January, the INMO said this measure was necessary in the interest of maintaining safe patient care, manageable workloads for staff and in recognition of the limited bed capacity which exists at this time. The INMO highlighted the increasing levels of stress and illness, occurring amongst ED staff, due to what they say are the unacceptable workloads and overcrowding they are facing on a daily basis.

Speaking this evening INMO General Secretary Liam Doran said; “The INMO welcomes the Minister’s recognition, through the establishment of this taskforce, of the crisis that now faces emergency departments and, by extension, the whole health service.

The INMO is currently balloting members, in five hospitals, seeking a mandate, if necessary, for industrial action to protect their health and safety due to their current workloads and working environment. This action will begin in January, if immediate measures are not taken to alleviate the current pressures. It is inevitable that our members, in other hospitals, will also begin balloting due to the environment that currently exists.”

“In calling for the cancellation of elective admissions we believe this only acknowledges the current reality. The system cannot pretend, in the month of January, it can continue to deal with elective admissions and the demand for emergency admissions that will present. Safe patient care must be the priority,” said Mr Doran.

“Against this very difficult, and challenging, background the INMO will work with the Minister, the HSE and all other stakeholders to bring forward, urgently, initiatives, which must include additional beds and staff, to alleviate the current crisis,” he remarked.

The ED Taskforce meets again to review progress in dealing with the crisis on Monday, January 26.