NI nurses: 'We can't take any more'
Union warns of working conditions impact on staff's mental health
Last updated 30th May 2019
One of Northern Ireland's top nurses has warned they are being pushed to breaking point.
Pat Cullen says nurses face overwhelming stress daily, with huge staff shortages, unacceptable waiting lists and budget cuts making working conditions hugely challenging.
The Director of the Royal College of Nursing in Northern Ireland believes everyday pressures were now taking their toll:
"A report was released to say that suicide rates among nurses are 25% higher than that of the general population," she said.
"That's really, really concerning."
Health staff and unions have been involved in negotiations with the Department of Health over pay and conditions recently and have threatened industrial and strike action.
Downtown Cool FM understands pay talks will continue until the end of June, if no agreement is reached between health chiefs and the RCN, members will be balloted for industrial or strike action.
It means nurses could potentially go on strike just as the winter pressure period begins in September.
Speaking at a public meeting in Belfast, Ms Cullen told Downtown Cool FM nurses are facing unprecedented stress levels on their wards every day:
"We heard a young man speak about how he has to come in early each and every day to provide support to his other nursing colleagues on the ward, just to get them through the day.
"It is simply down to the pressures that they're working under and the low staffing numbers."
The staff nurse who didn't want to be named told us the impact of the stress on his personal life:
"For me a working day is meant to start at half seven, regularly I'd be in work from six to make sure that I'm there for support for the staff.
"I have three young kids, the last time I had a proper holiday with my kids was during the paternity leave of my youngest which was in December 2017.
"The charge nurses and the sisters around the trust and around the region are all putting their families to the wayside to try and ensure safety for our patients."
Northern Ireland is currently around 2500 nurses short with vacancies across hospitals and the community.
Unions have been warning the current crisis in the health service is a public safety issue and are calling for safe staffing legislation.
Ms Cullen said the situation cannot continue:
"One particular nurse has had one week off in the last year simply because he can't walk away from his ward and his patients," she says.
"That's what nurses do, they will always- even during industrial action and or strike if we move to that position, will always put our patients first but nurses should not be pushed to that position.
"Nurses should never be told they're responsible for taking on the full responsibility of the healthcare service in Northern Ireland."