HSE committed to resolve Ballyshannon Community Hospital dispute before planned opening

The HSE have said that they "remain committed to resolving matters through ongoing dialogue" in an ongoing dispute at the new and as yet, unopened €31.76m South Donegal Community Hospital in Ballyshannon in advance of a planned opening date of early February. 

“It is disappointing that the INMO are going ahead with a ballot for industrial action before the engagement and conciliation had been allowed to reach a conclusion,” they said.

The union has stated that adequate provisions and planning have not been made around staffing and clinical governance, and that this poses a risk to staff and patients. 

Talks were being held last Friday January 19 between the HSE and the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) at the Workplace Relations Commission, but broke down as the parties were unable to reach an agreement.

And now the impasse over the opening of a new eighty-bed community hospital in Ballyshannon, located on the grounds of the old Sheil Hospital could now see INMO taking industrial action in pursuance of an agreement on safe staffing and clinical governance for the new hospital.

In a statement the HSE said:

"The new Ballyshannon Community Hospital is located centrally within the town of Ballyshannon. It will replace the old Sheil Community Hospital and The Rock Nursing Unit. The new Community Hospital will provide both Long Term Care and Short Term Care facilities to serve the catchment area of South Donegal North Leitrim and North Sligo. 

"It is planned that the existing residents in the Community Nursing Unit based at the Rock will transfer to this new facility, which will allow for care to be given in the most appropriate modern health care environment which will benefit their needs and promote a high quality of life.  All residents and families are looking forward to the move.

"The new Ballyshannon Community Hospital has been recently inspected by HIQA who have reviewed all Regulatory requirements in line with the Health Act and have confirmed that the Hospital meets all required Standards including staffing and skill mix  The Hospital is now fully Registered with HIQA with the Registration certificate proudly displayed within the new Facility.

"In preparation for the opening of the new Community Hospital, there has been constructive partnership working between the HSE and the Unions over many months, supported more recently by the conciliation services of the Workplace Relations Commission. 

They concluded their comments by stating that they are actively seeking to engage with INMO colleagues to find a resolution to support the commencement of services in early February 2024.

INMO 'deeply disappointed'

In advance of these comments the INMO had described the outcome of last week's talks as “deeply disappointing”.

INMO Industrial Relations Officer for the region, Neal Donohue said:

“Patient and worker safety must be paramount for any decision to open the hospital, and the failure to adequately plan for this won’t be accepted by the nurses going into this hospital. 

“It is deeply disappointing that this much-needed new facility remains unused while the HSE continues to drag its heels over these issues.

“Nurses want to ensure their patients are safe, and not exposed to the risk of compromised care due to unsafe staffing levels, and they want to ensure these issues are resolved from the outset instead of waiting until staff and patients are already in danger.  

“INMO members are now considering industrial action in pursuance of an agreement on safe staffing aThe new Ballyshannon Community Hospital is located centrally within the town of Ballyshannon.