Members of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) will hold a lunchtime protest from 1.30-3pm today at Dungarvan Community Hospital, Waterford.

The action is aimed at highlighting what the organisation says is a shortage of nurses at this 146 bedded care of the older person facility.

This will be followed by the commencement of a work to rule at 8am next Monday, when nurses will “set aside non-nursing roles in order to maximise patient care requirements”.

“INMO members feel that they have no option but to concentrate on core nursing care roles to ensure their focus is on delivering quality and safe care to their patients at the hospital,” said INMO industrial relations officer Mary Power.

“This shortage of nursing staff has been ongoing for quite some time and while we have met management on many occasions, the HSE have failed to recruit enough nurses for Dungarvan Community Hospital to meet the service needs.

“This action will enhance the actual nursing care for patients as it will allow nurses to prioritise patient care by ceasing non-urgent clerical/support work.”