Election candidate lends her support to protesting hospital workers

Independent general candidate in Laois cllr Aisling Moran joined frontline workers on their protest at the gates of Portlaoise hospital earlier today in their continuing campaign opposing the HSE’s Pay and Numbers Strategy.

The lunchtime picket was organised by SIPTU and the INMO to highlight the pressure on hospital workers, failure by the HSE to fill vacancies over a prolonged period and the chronic shortage of staff which is putting inordinate pressure on their members.

Cllr Moran has repeatedly raised concerns for frontline staff throughout her campaign and  long beforehand at numerous council meetings.

She said: “The stress and strain they are under is unbearable and unsafe both for staff and patients. I have time and time again spoken of how they are not in the frontline but rather the firing line, and the victims of poor management and failed government policies.

“There wasn’t a penny, not a mention in the budget of nurses, no plan to recruit and retain them as they emigrate in their droves. 

The same can be seen in teaching and in the guards, so many other jobs where this government repeatedly fail to take action to attract staff who can’t afford a home or even pay rent. 

Meanwhile in the workplace they are run off their feet and unable to cope safely with what’s demanded of them.” 

Showing solidarity at today’s protest at Portlaoise hospital was Aisling’s wife, Fiona, herself a former nurse who told the protesting staff: “I quit, I had to get out. I was a nurse. We were underpaid, understaffed and undervalued. I just got sick of it and left.” 

 For her part cllr Moran contends there is a different way.

“There is a better way to treat nurses and healthcare workers, rather than insulting them with pious platitudes, broken agreements, and dangerously low staffing levels." 

“It’s infuriating to listen to the Taoiseach in the leaders’ debate last night talking about how he understands the problem. How he’s glad that question was asked. How he understands peoples’ anger, as if it has nothing whatsoever to do with him.

“Simon Harris has been in Government since 2011 - 14 years he’s had to solve these issues. Along with the Tánaiste, Micheál Martin they are both former Ministers for Health. They have the health service in a disastrous and dangerous state, even though the country is supposed to be awash with money. Now they are offering more sympathy when what’s required is more staff and better pay and conditions.

“He’s talking about the ‘Rainy Day Fund’, well the rainy day is here in the health service, in housing, in childcare, in disability services, in special needs supports. All he has to offer is tea and biscuits and ‘I feel your pain’. 

"The public are sick of it, and he’ll get his answer on Friday,” said cllr Moran.