Labour Court backs nurses on Cork ambulance relief duty

In 1987, the Labour Court recommended that the Southern Health Board continue employing general trained nurses for relief duty in Cork City's ambulance service. The recommendation was signed on 11 December 1987. The Irish Transport and General Workers' Union (Cork No. 8 Branch) argued that the arrangement breached an agreement requiring two trained drivers per ambulance and raised safety concerns. The Board said nurses covered sick-leave absences, while trained relief drivers covered annual leave. The Court found the Board was not in breach of the crewing agreement and recommended that the existing arrangement continue.