Page 3 - World of Irish Nursing April 2018

EDITORIAL 5

Our fortitude must

Irish Nurses and
Journal of the
Midwives Organisation not be taken
World of Irish Nursing & Midwifery
(ISSN: 2009-4264) for granted
Volume 26 Number 3
April 2018
WIN,
MedMedia Publications, The difficulties posed by the snow, impass-
17 Adelaide Street, able routes to work and overnight stays in
Dun Laoghaire, work, demonstrated the fortitude of INMO
Co Dublin.
Website: www.medmedia.ie members and other frontline employees
over the past number of weeks as they faced
the challenges with good will, good humour
and selflessness. The additional strain on employer to provide formal debriefing
the health system was in the context of and support in difficult periods. This sup-
an already seriously overcrowded hospital port must include clear and unambiguous
Editor Alison Moore system, with a predictably sharp attendance commitment to develop a plan with trade
email: alison.moore@medmedia.ie increase to an all-time, unwelcome, record unions on how staff will be communicated
Tel: 01 2710216 of 710 admitted patients without a bed on with, catered for and accommodated in
Production & news editor Tara horan
March 12, 2018. extreme weather conditions. The INMO
Sub-editor Fodhla McCarthy The INMO was quick and forthright was critical of the approach taken by the
Designers Fiona Donohoe, Paula Quigley in defending the right of members to be hSe in respect of Storm emma and, along-
Commercial director Leon ellison treated fairly if unable to attend work. This side other health service unions, we are
email: leon.ellison@medmedia.ie resulted in the health Minister interven- now in a process of developing protocols
Tel: 01 2710218 ing and confirming penalties would not be for similar events in the future.
Publisher Geraldine Meagan imposed on those unable to attend work We view supporting members at times
due to conditions outside of their control. of adversity as an extremely important
WIN – World of Irish Nursing & Midwifery We know that when unexpected events part of our role. The INMO recently made a
is published in conjunction with the occur frontline staff, including nurses and presentation on the implementation of the
Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation by
MedMedia Group, Specialists in healthcare midwives, display a core commitment to Maternity Strategy to the Oireachtas com-
Publishing & Design. the delivery of services regardless of the mittee on health. One of the committee
circumstances. This demonstrates a level of members asked who supported midwives
fortitude that is often taken for granted. The when they are subjected to panels of
level of inter-agency co-operation and good enquiry and investigations post adverse
humour displayed in assisting staff to get to events? We were proud to say unequivo-
work, assisting staff to get home from work cally “we do”. The representatives of the
and generally supporting personnel needed hSe present concurred that INMO support
Editor-in-chief: Phil Ní Sheaghdha
to provide care in difficult circumstances, in the workplace and at proceedings was
INMO editorial board: was remarked on time and again by INMO evident, and that the employees gained
Martina harkin-Kelly; Mary Leahy;
Margaret Frahill; Frances Cullen; Kay Garvey; members. however, this experience has most support via the INMO.
Mary Gorman; Karen McGowan shown that the level of planning to get The policy decisions and commitment
staff to work and provide for their needs at of previous, and current, executive Coun-
INMO editor: Ann Keating
email: ann.keating@inmo.ie work in conditions such as those just expe- cils to ensure the provision of high quality
rienced, must be improved considerably. professional services, industrial relations
INMO editorial assistant: Freda hughes
every day, demanding situations are pre- services, and legal and counselling services
INMO photographer: Lisa Moyles sented to health service staff, leading to to INMO members as an integral part of
INMO correspondence to: increasing pressure to discharge patients membership is unwavering, unstinting and
Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation,
Whitworth Building, earlier, to provide care to very sick patients wholly necessary. The requirement for the
North Brunswick Street, in the community and to improve turn- employment environment to be support-
Dublin 7. over times – and all this in an era when ive and non-punitive in challenging times
Tel: 01 664 0600 staffing shortages are widespread in the is essential to allow camaraderie and good
Fax: 01 661 0466 nursing and midwifery workforce. The will, described earlier, to flourish.
Email: inmo@inmo.ie collective camaraderie that was evident The theme of the 2018 ADC is ‘Innovation
Website: www.inmo.ie
during the recent storms is not a once off; in Practice – Nurses and Midwives Leading the
it is demonstrated daily as nurses and mid- Way’. I look forward to meeting delegates
www.facebook.com/ wives provide support to each other and to next month and hope we will have a lively, WIN Vol 26 No 3 April 2018
irishnursesandmidwivesorganisation other health professionals. informative and successful event.
While this camaraderie is necessary in Phil Ní Sheaghdha
twitter.com/INMO_IRL the workplace, it is the responsibility of the General Secretary, INMO