Emergency services at one of the State's biggest hospitals may be curtailed from today because of an increasingly bitter dispute involving non-medical staff.
The stoppage by 230 workers at Waterford Regional Hospital, including porters, caterers and laundry staff, is causing severe disruption and hardship for patients, according to the South Eastern Health Board.
Hospital management claimed that stones were thrown yesterday at emergency contract cleaners who were refused entry to the hospital and subsequently "followed out of Waterford". A union official denied knowledge of intimidation but claimed the cleaners concerned had acted provocatively towards union members.
The dispute centres on an official strike by members of the Technical, Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU) who claim supervisors are carrying out the work of plumbers and electricians after hours and at weekends.
But the health board says the real hardship is being caused by the unofficial support for the TEEU action by a much larger group of ATGWU members. The hospital general manager, Mr Richard Dooley, said the unofficial action was "totally unacceptable in terms of patient care".
Moves were under way yesterday to have the Labour Relations Commission facilitate talks between the two sides.
All non-emergency admissions and services have already been cancelled due to the dispute, and Mr Dooley said emergency procedures were also under threat because of the refusal of the workers involved to allow contract cleaners to pass the pickets.
This meant that areas such as the intensive care unit, operating theatres and delivery suites could not get the specialised cleaning required. A decision on the continuation of those services would be taken "over the next day or so", he said. Essential medical supplies had also been blocked.
The hospital has 350 patients and serves a population of 400,000 in the south-east.
