Nurses strike: HSE shares information on the affected services

The HSE has released information on what services will and will not operate if this week’s planned nurses’ strike goes ahead.

On Wednesday, January 30 nurses and midwives across the country will strike for a full 24-hours, from 8 am on Wednesday until 8 am on Thursday. It will take place across all public hospitals, healthcare facilities and community healthcare services.

About the strike

Nurses and midwives are striking against low pay and a failure to attract and retain nursing staff. More than 35,000 nurses and midwives are expected to take part.

Although the HSE hopes to avert the strike, plans are being put in place to deal with the planned action. Emergency departments will be opened but the HSE is urging people not to venture to hospitals unless it’s absolutely essential. The HSE also said it will reschedule any cancelled appointments as soon as possible.

Related: Why IMAGE Publications will #StandWithNurses

Services not available on January 30

• Local injury units will not operate
• Planned inpatient surgery will be cancelled, except for cancer surgery. Inpatient is when you need to stay in hospital for one night or more.
• Planned day case procedures will be cancelled. Day case is when you are given a hospital bed or a trolley but will not stay overnight.
• All outpatient appointments are cancelled. This includes adult, maternity and paediatric appointments. Outpatient is when you go to hospital for an appointment but don’t stay overnight.
• If a pregnant woman needs urgent assessment due to the cancellation of an appointment, she should go to the emergency admission room
• All day centres operated by the HSE and specified agencies where nurses are employed will close (people affected will be notified)
• All routine community nursing services and health centre clinics where nurses participate will be cancelled
• All day hospitals or outpatient appointments in community nursing hospitals or units will be cancelled

Services that will operate on January 30

• Emergency departments (adult and children).
• Urgent cancer surgery
• Maternity services (Delivery suites, home births, special care baby units, neonatal)
• Colposcopy services
• Oncology services (chemotherapy and radiotherapy)
• Dialysis
• Planned obstetric procedures (based on clinical need)
• Planned essential services delivered at home
• Residential care of older people and people with intellectual disability in centres operated by the HSE and specified agencies
• Palliative care
• Limited newborn screening will be available

For more information visit the HSE website.