Cork hospital strike: four unions picket CUH as surgeries cancelled

Essential care to continue during Cork hospital strike

Members of SIPTU, INMO, Fórsa and IMO began picketing the hospital at 8am. The walkout is among the largest industrial actions to take place at an Irish hospital this year.

HSE South West warned that the strike would significantly disrupt services, forcing the cancellation of elective operations, routine procedures and outpatient clinics. 

Administrative services have also been affected, with hospital staff due to contact patients whose appointments have been cancelled to arrange new dates.

Despite the disruption, arrangements have been made to maintain essential care. INMO assistant director of industrial relations Liam Conway said the unions had agreed to provide cover for services considered necessary to preserve life.

This includes the emergency department, intensive and critical care, inpatient wards and maternity services. 

Separate arrangements have also been put in place to ensure patients can continue receiving cancer treatments, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy, where appointments cannot be postponed.

Nurses accuse Government of failing to offer fair pay deal

Conway said the strike reflected growing frustration among nurses and midwives over staffing shortages, working conditions and the Government’s spending decisions.

“Nurses and midwives in Cork see the consequences of Government's spending decisions every single day,” he said.

“We see it in understaffed wards, in the growing levels of burnout among our colleagues, and in the constant goodbyes to nurses and midwives who are retiring early or leaving Ireland to seek better opportunities elsewhere.”

He also warned that Cork University Hospital was already experiencing “black escalation” due to significant overcrowding before the industrial action began.

Hospital management had been working to discharge as many patients as possible ahead of the walkout.

Conway accused the Government of failing to put forward a credible pay offer that would address the cost-of-living pressures facing healthcare workers.

Despite the disruption, emergency departments at Cork University Hospital and other hospitals across the region remain open. Time-sensitive treatments, including cancer care and dialysis, are also continuing as normal.

RTÉ reports that the HSE has urged anyone requiring urgent medical attention to attend their nearest emergency department.