Members of the Irish Nurses Organisation at Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe held a lunchtime protest outside the facility on Tuesday over what the union claims is the “wrongful suspension” of two long serving senior nurse managers.
The union says the demonstration, which took place during members’ lunch times and did not affect patient care, is the first step in its industrial action campaign, which began on Monday.
INO deputy general secretary Dave Hughes warns unless the issue is resolved industrial action will escalate from Monday December 1.
Outlining the background to the case he says in March five of the seven assistant directors of nursing who hold responsibility for hospital management registered grievances about alleged deficiencies in communications and patient health and safety issues at the hospital.
“In June they again raised their concerns and when it was clear that their issues had not been addressed they referred their grievance to the general manager. In response all five received letters containing an allegation of dysfunctional behaviours ‘within senior nurse management’ and requesting them to attend an assessment process with a management consultant on a one to one basis.
“They individually replied asking precisely what they were being accused of and the terms of reference for the assessment. This request was ignored. The general manager then instructed all five to attend the assessment with the external consultant. There was no elaboration on the allegation or terms of reference.”
He says they refused to attend individual assessments with the consultant and the first two to refuse, one assistant director with more than 30 years service at the hospital and the other with more than 20, were suspended and advised that their refusal was considered by the general manager as serious misconduct.
“She referred the matter to the network manager under stage four of the HSE discipline code which could lead to dismissal. Seven days later the network manager, in a letter, summoned them to a disciplinary hearing on the basis that they had refused a legitimate instruction. He did not ask for a response to the allegation and contrary to the HSE code, he did not investigate the circumstances of the allegation,” alleges Mr Hughes.
“He decided to uphold the original complaint and gave a final written warning, an instruction to accept the order to attend individual assessment as directed by the general manager and also sign a letter expressing their regret for not attending in the first place before they could return to work. They were at that point three weeks off duty.”
The INO official says the assistant directors felt their request for details of the allegations against them relating to dysfunctional behaviour was reasonable.
“In short, the demand to attend was neither legitimate nor reasonable and their right under HSE procedures to raise concerns without retribution had been denied. They were, in effect, being disciplined for raising a grievance. They exercised their right to appeal to the national director of the HSE Hospitals Office and she indicated to the INO she would be reducing the penalty to a stage two formal written warning and advising a return to duty.”
He alleges “demands were issued to the two individuals as to why they had not returned to work”. On medical advice they were certified as too stressed to return to work.
Mr Hughes says INO members at the hospital are taking action in pursuit of a full investigation as to how lodging a grievance was allowed to become a disciplinary action against those who lodged it.
The HSE West this week expressed “surprise” at the content of the INO statement saying that this matter is being dealt with as part of an HR process.
“Two members of nursing staff at Portiuncula Hospital, who had been placed off duty with pay pending a disciplinary procedure, have been asked to return to duty from 10th November, following the conclusion of the disciplinary procedure. It is understood that the INO ballot sought the reinstatement of the two staff. (Staff were notified that they were
being reinstated as of 10th November ). As this is now the case, the basis for the INO protest action is not clear.”
The HSE statement outlined that the director of the National Hospital’s Office has formally invited the INO to a meeting to discuss this issue.
“Having due regard for agreed industrial relations procedures, the industrial action under way should be deferred to allow this meeting take place. It is essential that this action does not in any way put at risk the service provided to patients at Portiuncula Hospital.”
