Members of Fórsa trade union working for the HSE protested outside University Hospital Galway on Wednesday of this week, marking the 14th demonstration held by health unions this Autumn.

The lunchtime protest, organised by the INMO, Fórsa and Siptu, continued a series of protests by health workers, organised in response to the HSE's suppression of thousands of health posts.

Fórsa has said that the suppression of these health posts is adversely affecting services to older people, in addition to community and acute services and mental health services. To date protests have taken place in Cavan, Cork, Clonmel, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Offaly, Sligo, Tralee and Tuam while more protests are planned.

Fórsa members at HSE employments across the country have been voting in a ballot for industrial action since mid-October. The ballot concludes on 26th November.

The union has said current pressures on services are set to get worse as demand rises in the winter months, while existing staff are forced to cope with an insufficient complement of staff in most departments.

Speaking at the protest in Galway, Evan Stapleton, vice chair of the Galway H&W branch, and a clinical coder at UHG, said: “Staff are fed up, there’s been too long where we’ve been understaffed and been expected to do the work of one, two, or in some cases three or four people. It’s unfair on staff, it doesn’t promote a healthy atmosphere within the hospital, it makes staff feel undervalued. We want to achieve safe staffing levels for members of the public and members of the union. We want to be treated fairly.” 

Michael Kerrigan, Fórsa official said continuing employment restrictions are putting patient services under enormous strain: “Our extensive survey of Fórsa members in health revealed the real struggles they are facing to deliver services.Waiting lists continue to grow, and it’s having a significant impact on both our members and on the people of Galway who rely on our health services.

The next protests due to take place are: 

• Wednesday 20th November Letterkenny University Hospital
• Thursday 21st November Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar
• Wednesday 27th November Midland Regional Portlaoise 
• Thursday 28th November St Vincent’s University Hospital Dublin 

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