Labour Court directs HSE South to include nurse in early-retirement scheme

The Labour Court found HSE South had unreasonably refused a senior staff nurse access to the Incentivised Scheme of Early Retirement and directed management to take the steps needed to include her without delay. The decision was signed on 3 December 2012. The nurse, represented by the Irish Nurses' & Midwives' Organisation, had 33 years’ service at St Finbarr’s Hospital in Cork. She appealed after her application and an internal appeal were refused. HSE South said it needed to protect services and retain a balanced mix of skills. The Court said applications should be considered promptly and refusals supported by credible reasons. It found HSE South had not explained why the nurse’s routine duties could not be covered by redeploying staff in the wider region, and noted that staff at other facilities had joined the scheme.