Maternity hospital opens after dispute ends
Dozens of mothers and babies were today moved into the country’s newest maternity hospital after the resolution of an industrial dispute.
The Cork University Maternity Hospital finally opened its doors after health chiefs and nurses hammered out a deal on staffing levels.
Transfers and new admissions to the €7m state-of-the-art facility were delayed because of concerns about the number of midwives and nurses working there.
However, after late night negotiations between the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) an agreement was reached which allowed the 128-bed hospital to eventually open.
Union members voted 62% in favour and 38% against the health authority proposals to ensure a safe number of nurses and midwives to operate the hospital.
More than 300 staff were involved in the transfer of 46 mothers and their babies, 30 pregnant women and 28 neonatal babies from existing wards at Erinville, St Finbarr’s and Bon Secours in the city.
Barry O’Brien, Assistant National Director of Human Resources HSE South, said the hospital is now the best of its kind in the Ireland.
“The facility, which is the best funded, best equipped and best staffed maternity hospital in the country, will provide a world class service in a world class environment for maternity patients,” he said.
Tony McNamara, general manager of Cork University Hospital Group, described the opening as an enormously significant development marking a new beginning for maternity services in the city.
“We look forward to the amalgamation of the service, bringing together the expertise of all staff onto one site and further enhancing the excellent level of maternity care available to mothers and babies in Cork and further afield,” he said.
