The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) will ballot its members on industrial action in September if the Government does not immediately engage with it on the issue of safe staffing levels.

At the INMO’s annual delegate conference in Kerry, a motion was passed mandating the organisation’s executive council to commence a ballot of all members in mid-September if sufficient progress on safe staffing is not made.

Speaking at the conference, emergency department nurse, Sarah Meagher, said that nurses and midwives “have waited long enough” for safe staffing.

“We need to ensure that each healthcare facility has safe and effective staffing in place. Staff are leaving because they cannot face working in locations with inappropriate staffing in unsafe environments.

“If the Government does not act immediately and engage with the INMO on legislated safe nurse staffing, we will be putting this issue directly to our members in the form of balloting for industrial action,” she explained.

Also speaking at the conference, Lynda Moore, a midwife in Cork University Maternity Hospital said that the HSE and successive governments “have failed to realise the National Maternity Strategy”.

“A lack of safe staffing in our maternity units is making it both difficult to recruit and retain midwives and provide specialised care to women who need it. Without safe staffing in our maternity units, it will be impossible to fully realise the National Maternity Strategy and allow women more choice in their care pathways,” she commented.

The INMO annual delegate conference is taking place in Killarney this week.