Vol. 407 No. 5
15 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Labour if he will use his good offices to bring about a solution to the dispute involving the South-Eastern Health Board and the ATGWU which is preventing the mobile cardiac unit at Waterford Regional Hospital from being used.
An arrangement was reched between the Irish Heart Foundation and the Waterford Regional Hospital for the provision of a fully equipped mobile vehicle for coronary emergencies.
In the view of the health board, the unit must be staffed by a doctor and nurse because the duties include the administration of drugs. The work is not considered appropriate for ambulance personnel. The unit will be brought into operation later in the year when medical staff necessary to service the unit become available.
The operation of this service is a matter for discussion and negotiation at local level.
This seems to be a most unnecessary dispute and it should be relatively easy to solve the problem. Will the Minister get an officer from his Department to speak to both sides involved to see if resolution of the problem can be achieved?
It was not a dispute I was familiar with but I have read the briefing notes this morning. I will talk to somebody in the Department and see what can be done. It seems unusual. As I understand it, the management have informed the union that they are adamant that this is a job for professional medical people and they will not entertain the claim as it is at present. This is where the difficulty lies.
But will the Minister get somebody to consider it?
Yes.
