Hospital overcrowding is probably worse now than at any time before, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.
Speaking before the start of its annual delegate conference in Sligo, INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said the emergency department crisis was worse due to several factors - the growing population, the health system concentrating care mostly in hospitals and the need to fully implement the Sláintecare reforms as set out.
She said the INMO wanted to see the terms of reference for plans to examine emergency departments around the country and that the Health Service Executive examining itself is not something the union is interested in participating in.
Ms Ní Sheaghdha also said members had concerns about having sufficient paediatric nursing staff for the new national paediatric hospital on the St James's Hospital campus.
She said that because it will be single room occupancy at the new hospital, around 500 extra paediatric nurses would be needed, on top of the original complement of around 500 nursing staff for it to operate safely.
She said recruitment could be difficult given it takes around four-and-a-half years to train a paediatric nurse and that many of them are attracted to better terms and conditions abroad.
INMO members also expect the working hours of nurses to reduce as planned from 1 July, after nurses and midwives had worked free extra hours in the health service as part of the Haddington Road Agreement.
Ms Ní Sheaghdha said that if there is any "messing" on it by the HSE, nurses will react.
This is the first in-person delegate conference for the INMO in three years.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly is due to address delegates on Friday.
