RESTRICTIONS ON ISLANDS NURSES PUTTING PRESSURE ON DOCTORS

Date Published: 09-Aug-2010

Working restrictions on public nurses working on the Aran Islands are putting extra pressure on doctors.

The HSE has recently imposed a condition that any Island with a doctor, can only employ a public health nurse on a 40 hour week.

Previously nurses worked on a 24-7 basis- working a 40 hour week, but also available for any out of hours emergency call outs.

The Islands of Inís Mór and Inís Oírr both have doctors while Inís Méain has a full time public nurse.

Dr. Marian Broderick who works as a G.P. on Inis Mór told Galway Bay fm news this situation is forcing doctors to make difficult decisions.