Royal College of Nursing outlines strike derogations

Patients needing chemotherapy or dialysis will not be exempt from strike action on Thursday.

It comes as the Royal College of Nursing outlines its derogations, ahead of the widespread day of action.

Nurses will take to the picket lines from eight am until 1pm in Northern Ireland, in what the RCN has described as a 'short, sharp period of action.'

The union is joining teachers, some PSNI workers and civil servants in widespread strike action.

A statement from the Royal College of Nursing said:

As with previous strikes a number of services will be derogated which include:

• Critical Care Units e.g., ICU/HDU

• Neonatal and Paediatric ICU

• Regional Forensic Unit

• Psychiatric Intensive Care Units.

In-patient areas and emergency departments (including paediatric emergency departments) will operate at night duty staffing levels, while community services will be derogated to Christmas Day staffing levels.

Currently, dialysis units, chemotherapy services and theatre staff will not be derogated. However, if emergency or urgent surgery or treatment is required, we will work with the trusts to ensure treatment can take place through the urgent derogation process we have put in place.

Whilst the derogation of services or members is to maintain life preserving care, it is important to note that during any day of strike action, it will remain the responsibility of

each employer to determine the services that they will provide. Furthermore, in reaching a decision to run a service, it is the responsibility of each employer to ensure the service can be staffed safely without RCN members who are permitted to participate in strike action.

Rita Devlin, Director of the RCN in Northern Ireland said:

“The reality is that no nurse in Northern Ireland wants to take strike action, but we have been left with no other option.

“RCN members in Northern Ireland have been raising concerns about their inability to deliver safe care for years. While 18 January is a significant day, our members are worried every day of the year about the impact of low staffing levels and their ability to give care to patients.

“Nursing staff are apologising every single day to patients about cancelled appointments and delays in treatment. They are beyond frustrated and angry at the current situation and Thursday is their opportunity to have their voices heard loud and clear.

“There are those within Northern Ireland who can stop this action at any time, and we are clear that the responsibility for this strike lies entirely upon their shoulders.”