International meetings
Patsy Doyle, IRO, and I attended the Californian Nursing Association and National Nurses United Convention in Las Vegas recently, where I was asked to speak on the impact of austerity on nurses in Ireland. The Convention was an excellent event where we participated in a protest to highlight the need for an international response to the Ebola crisis. During our discussions we learned that more than 180 healthcare workers from Liberia have died from the disease.

The last day of the conference was dedicated to a Global Nurses United meeting where 13 countries participated from across the globe. The discussions centred on union activities with campaigns for patient ratios being paramount. It is always extremely interesting to hear nursing stories from across the globe and, no matter what forum you meet nurses in, the subjects of the discussions are much the same, ie. workload, patient care and staffing.

Presentation of cheque to St Luke’s
It was with great pleasure that I presented cheques of €1,500 each to the St Luke’s Hospital Scanner Appeal and also the Cois Nore Cancer Support Centre in Kilkenny. The money was raised at our Annual Delegate Conference in Kilkenny in May and I would like to again thank our delegates for their generosity.

Pictured (l-r) were: Dr Phyllis O’Sullivan; Francis Hayes; Jenny Maloney; Barbara Scholfield; and Helen Butler – all from St Luke’s, Kilkenny; with Claire Mahon, INMO president; Jill Tynan, manager of Cois Nore; and Olive Cullen, St Luke’s, Kilkenny

Graduation ceremony
I also had the privilege of speaking at a graduation ceremony in University Hospital Waterford in October. It was a great honour for me to be asked to speak to our new graduates at such an important event in my own hospital.

For our graduates it is the end of one journey and the beginning of another as they venture off on their career path. Every day there is something new to be learned and I urged them to never pass up that opportunity and never be afraid to ask that question.

I was delighted to be able to meet the new graduates and felt proud that the future of the nursing and midwifery professions is safe in their hands. I wish all new graduates a safe journey along their path and hope their career choice gives them as much satisfaction as it has given me.

ICTU
As part of our social policy work I was recently elected chairperson of the ICTU disability committee. Executive Council member, Ailish Byrne is also on the committee and we look forward to working with this group over the next two years.

NMBI fee increase
As you know the NMBI has announced a fee increase of €50 bringing its registration fee to €150 per annum, an 80% increase in two years. This increase is being opposed by the INMO, SIPTU and the PNA. I want to remind members that the three unions will hold a public protest, at the head office of NMBI, 18/20 Carysfort Avenue, Blackrock, Dublin on Tuesday, November 18 at noon, to coincide with a board meeting. We encourage all available members to attend. Members outside of Dublin should liaise with their local representatives/ IRO to learn of what transport arrangements are being put in place to assist in participation. For further information on this issue, see pages 6-7

Telephone Triage
I was delighted to speak at the 10th annual Telephone Triage Section conference last month. I would like to sincerely thank the organising committee: Carmel Murphy; Breege Clarke; Claire McMahon; and Hazel James for all their hard work. Conferences like this do not merely just happen, they take a lot of organising and the INMO is extremely grateful to the committee for the Trojan work they do.

Get in touch
You can contact me at the INMO headquarters at Tel: 01 6640 600, through the president’s corner on www.inmo.ie or by email to: president@inmo.ie

From the President - On the ground with the president