Ireland’s largest nurses’ union has served a notice of industrial action on HSE Southwest over staffing levels at the Killarney Community Nursing Unit.
The newly-built unit is not yet open, after the health watchdog refused to register it over minor works which must be done.
The Irish Nurses' and Midwives' Organisation says industrial action is required to seek clarity and ensure staffing levels are safe for patients and staff.
The INMO says its members are very dissatisfied with the proposed staffing levels at the hospital.
It says there is a significant gap between staffing levels in comparable facilities and those being proposed in the Killarney Community Nursing Unit.
The INMO says its members are deeply concerned that the HSE proposal falls short of sufficient staffing required to deliver effective and appropriate care on day and night duty.
At the end of March this year, the union claimed HSE South West had not engaged with them about staffing needs at the hospital since May 2025.
The INMO says it has made numerous representations to the HSE about the need for clarity around the proposed configuration, and safe staffing, but it says this has not been forthcoming.
The union now says its members have been left with no choice but to take industrial action to seek clarity and ensure staffing levels are safe.
It says it remans available to engage with HSE South West to reach a resolution on staffing levels for the Killarney hospital.
It is another setback for the HSE in attempting to get the hospital up and running.
It was revealed yesterday that the Health Information and Quality Authority refused the HSE’s request to register the newly-built unit, with minor works needed before it can be registered.
HSE South West says it welcomes the INMO commitment to continue engagement and is working to find a positive resolution to the matter to enable the prompt opening of the new Killarney CNU as soon as the facility is HIQA registered.
