Strike action served on Mayo emergency department

Strike notice has been served on the HSE by members of Ireland's Medical Laboratory Scientists Association.

They will withdraw their services for a 12-hour period, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., on Wednesday next at all hospital emergency departments, including the one at Mayo University Hospital.

The strike will then be escalated on two and three successive days respectively in the following two weeks.

A statement issued by the organisation outlined: "Given the need that patients attending emergency departments (EDs) have for a variety of laboratory tests and notwithstanding any contingency arrangements that may be put in place, there will inevitably be significant disruption to the normal functioning of all EDs next Wednesday.

"It is important therefore that neither patients nor general practitioners assume that EDs are exempt from the action and attend or refer to the ED for services that will not be available during the action.

"Medical laboratory scientists perform a crucial role in patient care and in the workings of emergency departments and acute hospitals.

"The absence of this expertise and the services these professionals provide will inevitably have a very negative impact on patient care.

"The association’s understanding is that the issues at the heart of this dispute are long-standing and have remained unaddressed for an extended period.

"It therefore calls on all parties to resolve this impasse as a matter of urgency."