The move results from a refusal by theatre nurses to provide the current level of on-call service after 4.30 p.m. Nurses say that being on call after 4.30 p.m. means that when they are off duty they have to be within half an hour of the hospital, cannot make plans for a social life, must always have babysitting arrangements in place and cannot have a drink. Some nurses find themselves spending their free time minding the children of other nurses who have been called in. The East Coast Area Health Board has accused the INO of ignoring industrial relations procedures. The INO says it will meet management anytime.
Management says the action involves four nurses.
An INO spokesman said he understood talks would take place at the Labour Relations Commission on Friday. The number placed on the surgical waiting list might be higher if people could see a neurologist more quickly. However, the waiting list for neurology has almost doubled from 80 to 155. Mr Martin was unable to say how long it takes to get an appointment with a neurosurgeon after being referred by a family doctor. Mr Barrett said there was one neurologist per 350,000 people and that a patient could wait up to 18 months to see a neurologist.