Nurses launch industrial action over staffing and safety concerns

Nurses in Australia and Ireland have commenced industrial action to protest staffing shortages and patient safety risks.

In Australia, staff at Mayo Private Hospital in Taree and Forster Private Hospital walked off the job on October 29. The nurses are protesting against operator Healthe Care, demanding pay parity with the public health sector and mandated nurse-to-patient ratios. Workers reported that unsustainable double shifts and a loss of experienced staff to the public sector are compromising patient care.

In Ireland, nurses at Naas General Hospital have begun indefinite industrial action. The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) stated that previous commitments to address staffing shortages have not been implemented due to recruitment restrictions. Union representatives warned that the placement of additional beds without adequate staffing has created an unsafe environment, coinciding with high levels of hospital overcrowding.