Local Hospitals Cancel Some Appointment Following Strike Action

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There’s significant disruption for patients in Tipperary following further industrial action by medical scientists.

The Medical Laboratory Scientists Association (MLSA), which is taking the action, is calling for reform of their career structure and a pay increase.

In University Hospital Limerick and Tipperary University Hospital a number of procedures have been cancelled – full details can be found hse.ie/services/

Patients will be contacted by the hospital to reschedule their appointment.

For the first time the Medical scientists involved have also placed a picket on the laboratory of the Blood Transfusion Service.

The Medical Laboratory Scientists Association (MLSA), says no approach has been made by the HSE or the Department of Health since last week’s strike.

The action is taking place today and tomorrow.

The union has also given notice of 3 day stoppage next week if no progress is made

University Hospital Limerick and Tipperary University Hospital is directly contacting all patients whose appointments will be cancelled due to the action.

In UHL outpatient appointments that do not require bloods to be taken will go ahead.

Anyone with an appointment and who is not contacted should attend as scheduled. Essential services at University Hospital Limerick (UHL), including oncology and dialysis, will remain open. 

Details of service cancellations across the country, hospital by hospital, will be constantly updated on the HSE website at Hospital disruptions due to MLSA industrial action – HSE.ie

Impacted services at UHL include some elective surgeries, bronchoscopies, endoscopies, and Warfarin clinics. Medical Assessment Units at Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s Hospitals will be running as reduced services, while Injury Units at those hospitals will be open as normal. Some elective surgeries will be cancelled, as will endoscopies, on all three sites. The two-day industrial action has also led to the cancellation of some elective surgeries at Croom Orthopaedic Hospital.

At University Maternity Hospital Limerick (UMHL), C-sections and inducements, the emergency maternity unit and neonatal emergency department services will continue, as will labour ward services and most antenatal appointments.

While in TUH the following appointments are cancelled endoscopy procedures, elective procedures, colposcopy appointments
phlebotomy appointments, pre-assessment appointments and swabbing clinic. All other appointment are going ahead.

The Medical Laboratory Scientists Association (MLSA), says no approach has been made by the HSE or the Department of Health since last week’s strike. The union has also given notice of 3 day stoppage next week if no progress is made.