THE HEALTH Service Executive has confirmed it is to proceed with plans to end round-the-clock A&E services at Ennis and Nenagh hospitals from Monday.
The move follows the breakdown of talks with unions under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission in Limerick this week.
Health service unions have expressed concern over the changes, saying the HSE has failed to produce written proposals and finalise protocols on the changes.
In a joint statement issued after the talks collapsed on Wednesday evening, the Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) and Siptu said the HSE had failed to allow for time to comprehensively address the patient safety issues and staffing levels raised.
The INO is also seeking compensation for income that nurses in both hospitals will lose from their night duty allowances once the changes are introduced.
Health service unions were due to meet in Limerick again last night to discuss their response to the plans.
The HSE has said round-the-clock services in the midwest is unviable. Under the changes the AE units in Ennis and Nenagh will cease to provide 24-hour services from Monday.
Instead they will be open from 8am to 8pm and emergencies outside those hours will be dealt with at the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Limerick.
Over 3,000 people demonstrated over the HSE’s plans in Ennis on Saturday. Local GPs are also opposed to the changes.
Earlier this week the chairman of the Clare branch of the Irish College of General Practitioners, Dr Michael Harty, said the proposal “is neither safe or sensible”.
