Labour Court recommends Mayo hospital plan for expanded ICU staffing

The Labour Court recommended that Mayo University Hospital brief the Irish Nurses & Midwives Organisation on the approval process and timetable for additional intensive-care staffing, and map out how it would reach the agreed staffing level. The recommendation was dated 18 October 2024. The dispute concerned six clinical nurse manager shift-lead posts and one clinical nurse manager post for the expanded ICU. The union said €1.6 million had been allocated for expansion and staffing, while the hospital said the funding also covered beds and only two shift-lead posts had been approved. The Court criticised the late sharing of information and said the hospital relied on staff goodwill to maintain the service without the agreed staffing structure. It recommended a full briefing on the status and timeline for two posts, and a plan and timeframe for reaching the remaining agreed staffing level.