Strikes may lead to 20,000 cancelled appointments - IPA

The Irish Patients Association (IPA) has issued a warning that up to 20,000 individuals could face cancelled or delayed appointments across various health services due to planned strike action this week. Stephen McMahon, the IPA's director, emphasized the potential consequences for patients due to the uncertainty surrounding their health appointments and treatments.

Currently, a million people are on public hospital waiting lists, and this strike could affect an additional 20,000 people on Wednesday. The impact will be particularly felt by those undergoing procedures such as hip replacements, cataract surgeries, colonoscopies, and other treatments. McMahon stressed that healthcare professionals should not use strikes as an excuse for preventable patient injury.

He reiterated his call for a resolution to the dispute, urging all parties to find a solution without burdening patients with the repercussions of their actions. Many patients have already waited a year or longer to see a consultant or undergo an operation, and further disruptions to an already strained system could exacerbate the problem.

Private patients in private hospitals will not be affected, but the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has acknowledged that some services will experience minimal disruption, while essential services like dialysis and cancer treatments will continue uninterrupted. INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha stated that while the aim is minimum disruption, essential services will remain operational.

She highlighted a lack of trust among members, who have been subjected to unimplemented agreements for too long, and emphasized that the government must prioritize a cost of living agreement for the public health service to function effectively.