ABOUT 300 staff at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda are set to take strike action from next week in a dispute over changes to work practices.

The trade union Unite said yesterday that the row centred on health and safety issues, patient safety at the new emergency department of the hospital and the use of outside contractors.

Talks with management, which were being held at the Labour Relations Commission, had broken down, said Unite.

“This [industrial] action could effectively shut the hospital and while it is not something we want, we have no choice given the management disregard of promises made to our members.”

However, the Health Service Executive (HSE) said last night the talks had not broken down and criticised Unite for making the claim in its statement.

“Following very productive conciliation negotiations on November 4th, it was agreed that further talks would take place on November 30th. “In light of this fact, it is disingenuous to say that talks have broken down.

“In stating this, Unite are sending out a false impression of what actually took place and they are in contravention of good industrial relations practice.”

The HSE said management had consulted with staff at all times in relation to any changes at the hospital and, in that context, it viewed the industrial action planned by Unite as unacceptable

A Unite spokesman last night insisted talks had broken down.

It said the 300 workers directly affected by changes at the hospital included general porters, those who ordered food supplies; health care attendants and household staff.

“These staff, many of whom are on lower pay scales, have been asked to undertake a much broader range of additional duties over recent years.

“The scale of this work has escalated to unsafe levels but, despite the threat of industrial action, management have continually turned their back on issues which we see as critical for staff and patient care and safety,” Unite regional officer Claire Keane said.