SIPTU members in Midlands Regional Hospital to protest over safe staffing levels

SIPTU members, working as Multi Task Attendants, in Midlands Regional Hospital in Tullamore, County Offaly, will hold a protest outside the facility next Thursday (24th May), from 1.00 p.m. to 2.00 p.m., to highlight their concerns over staffing levels. SIPTU Organiser, John Hubbard, said: “SIPTU members are reluctantly taking this action to highlight their valid concerns over safe staffing levels at the hospital. Our members can no longer cope with the constant pressure which is severely impacting on the wellbeing of all the staff. “There is no continuity whatsoever within the hospital. The support staff are constantly being pulled from one area to another to cover shortfalls in numbers. When they return to their own area they have to race in order to catch up on work that has not been done.” He added: “It is clear that the management is in breach of an agreement regarding staffing levels in the hospital. There are currently 14 support staff agency workers in the hospital and management has approval to hire the equivalent of 19.5 full-time support staff. However, the hospital and the hospital group have failed to advertise for these jobs locally. This issue must be addressed. “SIPTU representatives are insisting that management in the Midlands Regional Hospital bring the staffing levels up to the agreed service levels immediately.”