Some 350 nurses and midwives are set to gather this week to debate ongoing issues in the health service, including how to maintain safe care with reduced resources.

The nurses will be attending the 94th annual conference of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO). This year's theme is ‘Protecting the Frontline'.

According to the INMO, the conference ‘will be dominated by the realities facing members of the frontline as they strive to maintain safe care with reduced resources despite ever increasing demand for services'.

The conference will be making a call for the introduction of agreed mandatory nurse/patient ratios in Ireland, with a standard staff level of one nurse to every four patients in mainstream wards.

The conference will also be focusing on midwifery staffing levels and staff shortages among community nurses.

"This year's ADC will reinforce the determination of nurses and midwives to protect those in their care as they call on the HSE to support staff to achieve and maintain national standards of care with adequate staffing levels and a safe working environment with proper equipment and adequate resources," commented INMO president, Claire Mahon.

The conference will take place from May 8-10 in Letterkenny. Health Minister, Dr James Reilly, will address the nurses and midwives on the final day of the conference.