Members of the Royal College of Nursing from the region will take part in strikes along with colleagues in England and Wales on Thursday.Read more: Northern Ireland RCN nursing strikes set to go ahead after government talks failThe Western Health Trust has indicated that 587 outpatient appointments have been postponed, and eight inpatient and day-case procedures have been cancelled across its hospitals, as well as treatment rooms closed at 11 GP practices and reduced community nursing services.
“However, as the department has previously stated, already fragile services will inevitably be further impaired by industrial action.” “The Department of Health remains extremely concerned at the scale of the current pressures on health and social care services – and the impact this is having on patients, service users, carers and staff.“It is the reality that there are no quick or simple solutions.”