Planned industrial action by Fórsa members at the Louth County Group of hospitals has been postponed.

The planned action, which was due to commence this week, followed a ballot in March due to an ongoing dispute because of staff shortages in the group, and the failure of hospital management to recruit urgently needed staff.

Fórsa had balloted health and social care professionals (HSCPs), clerical and administrative grades across the hospital group, which includes Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and the Cottage Hospital in Drogheda, and Louth County Hospital in Dundalk.

Following discussions and correspondence with management in recent weeks, Fórsa official Lynn Coffey wrote to members last Friday (4^th May) advising that the action had been postponed until 22^nd May.

Lynn added: “The postponement is to allow management the time to follow up with the advancement of actions communicated to Fórsa on 28^th April.

“Fórsa’s DEC has agreed that the planned first stage of industrial actions will now be postponed until the 22nd of May. In the intervening period Fórsa has requested that management provide regular updates on the following:

• All recruitment stages and actual filling of posts
• Status of actions and completed actions for the planned Louth Hospital Group HSCP recruitment day to take place on Saturday 27th May 2023
• Advancement of business cases forward for Fórsa grades.”

Lynn said members of the DEC will reconvene before 22^nd May to assess management’s progress on the issue.