24/01/2012

Patients May Not Be Fed Says Union

Workers in the catering department of Tallaght Hospital are concerned about low staffing levels and their ability to feed patients, it has emerged.

According to Siptu Sector Organiser, Louise O’Reilly, there are already unacceptably long queues for nursing and other staff on their breaks, which could potentially have an impact on the quality of care in the wards.

Said it had written to the Chief Executive of Tallaght Hospital to make her aware of this situation last week but we have not yet had a reply.

“The Catering Department has an agreed staffing level of 52 but there are only 48 staff at present. This situation will be exacerbated in the coming weeks when 3 further staff will be lost. The situation for our members has become intolerable and hospital management cannot expect them to continue in these circumstances.

“Likewise the other staff we represent in the hospital, many of whom have only a half hour break, are bearing the brunt of this failure to plan as the queues get longer for food. Staff in the Catering Department cannot cope with the volume of work and cannot understand why hospital management will not employ more workers to bring them up to their agreed staff ceiling.”

(DW)

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