Northern Ireland

Enniskillen: Nurses 'overwhelmed' by support for strike action

There was a large turnout at the official picket line in Enniskillen. Picture by Ronan McGrade
There was a large turnout at the official picket line in Enniskillen. Picture by Ronan McGrade There was a large turnout at the official picket line in Enniskillen. Picture by Ronan McGrade

NURSES at the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) in Enniskillen said they were overwhelmed at support shown by the public and businesses yesterday.

Royal College of Nursing members were joined by Unison and other health workers on the picket lines after their decision to take strike action for the first time ever.

The Western Health and Social Care Trust postponed 582 outpatient appointments across its hospitals in Derry, Omagh and Enniskillen as well as cancelling 53 planned inpatient and day procedures.

While all emergency services were covered by nursing and ambulance staff, yesterday’s strike action caused unprecedented disruption to health care in Counties Fermanagh, Tyrone and Derry.

The trust was also forced to stand down a range of other services including human milk bank supplies, school nursing and some health visiting.

Striking nurses on the picket line in Enniskillen were joined by Noel Traynor of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation as well as local politicians. Nurses described as “awesome” the levels of support shown by the public throughout the day.

Co Fermanagh councillor Donal O Cofaigh, who joined nurses on the picket lines, said many of the staff remained there throughout the day despite the atrocious weather.

“Spirits are high and there’s total determination to take further action to secure the objective of equal pay and an end to the staffing crisis,” he said.