Nurses in the Intensive Care Unit in University Hospital Limerick (UHL) have begun industrial action in the form of work-to-rule.
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) said that the dispute centres on understaffing in the unit.
The INMO said the ICU is operating at a 22% deficit, which means nearly a quarter of the required nurses are not available on the roster, yet 100% of the beds remain open to admissions.
"Our members are very concerned about the potential deviation away from one nurse to one patient care in the ICU," said INMO Assistant Director of Industrial Relations, Mary Fogarty.
"The lack of consistent safe staffing in the intensive care unit is having a detrimental impact on the physical and mental wellbeing of our members working in this unit and their patients," she added.
The INMO said that since a ballot of members in UHL ICU concluded, the union has engaged extensively with hospital management both at local level and through the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission.
"In order to make staffing safe in UHL ICU and ensure that patients are getting the one-to-one care that is expected in an intensive care unit, the INMO is calling on hospital management to temporarily close two beds in the ICU pending the recruitment of suitably qualified and experienced ICU nurses," she said.
In a statement, the UL Hospital Group said it is working with the INMO to ensure patient safety.
"We wish to reassure members of the public that any patient admitted to the Intensive Care Unit or High Dependency Unit will be cared for in a compassionate and safe manner," the group said.
"While this industrial action is a matter of regret, we remain available to engage with the INMO to come to a mutually agreed solution at the earliest possible point.
"A job in the ICU remains very much sought after by new nursing graduates, a number of whom have expressed interest in working in the unit and will commence in the final quarter of this year," the statement added.
The Department of Health said it was concerned to hear that the nurses had begun a work-to-rule.
"Engaging in such action would impact negatively on patients," it said in a statement.
"The Department of Health urges all parties to work on resolving any disputes through the appropriate forums and to uphold industrial peace in the interests of users of our health service," it added.
