Routine hospital and GP services across Tipperary will be impact by industrial action today.
Medical Scientists are taking the action in frustration over long-standing pay and career development issues.
The action involves the withdrawal of routine laboratory services from 8am to 8pm.
The Medical Laboratory Scientists Association says it is made every effort to avoid today’s disruption to patients and fellow healthcare workers, but has been left with no alternative.
The action follows many rounds of unsuccessful talks with the HSE, Department of Health, Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Public Service Agreement Group.
If no progress is made a further two days of action are planned for May 24th and 25th. Three further days of action are planned for May 31st, June 1st and June 2nd.
Impact on UL Hospital Group
UL Hospitals Group has been directly contacting all patients who will be impacted by todays industrial action by Medical Scientists. Outpatient appointments that do not require bloods to be taken are going ahead and anyone who has an appointment for today and who has not been contacted should attend as scheduled
Essential services at University Hospital Limerick including oncology and dialysis, will remain open. The hospital’s Emergency Department will be open but significant delays in service are expected for non urgent cases.
The Medical Assessment Units at Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s Hospitals will be running as reduced services, while Injury Units at those hospitals will be open as normal. Some elective surgeries will be cancelled, as will endoscopies, on all three sites.
In addition, Gynaecology services at Nenagh Hospital will be cancelled for today. Some elective surgeries scheduled for today at Croom Orthopaedic Hospital have also been cancelled.
Elective surgery is being cancelled at University Maternity Hospital Limerick. However, the emergency maternity unit and neonatal emergency department services will continue, as will labour ward services, and most antenatal appointments will go ahead.
