Laois health staff protest at Portlaoise hospital to demand restoration of service to hundreds of workers

Hundreds of staff based at St Fintan's Hospital have signed a petition calling for a staff canteen service to be restored for up to 500 workers to its pre-Covid levels.

Staff and their representatives took their campaign to management of the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise this week with a petition signed by variety of staff employed by the HSE and Tusla over what they say is the withdrawal of the service.

They say that before Covid-19 food was partially prepared in the St Fintan's canteen with the main service provided from the regional hospital. During the pandemic, the canteen service at St Fintan's was downsized due to the lack of staff. However, meals continued to be ferried to St Fintan's for staff in plastic containers.

However, this service has ended and no food is available through the St Fintan's canteen. 

Backed by the trade union Fórsa, they say that upwards of 500 staff work out of the St Fintan's campus in various expanding services. Apart from the local services, the buildings are also used by visiting staff on training courses from other parts of the country. 

Henry Hennessy works in the St Fintan's campus and is also the chairperson of the Laois branch of the Fórsa trade union. He spoke to the Leinster Express Laois Live at the hospital on Thursday, November 14.

"There is no facility to get a lunch now. You have to get into your car and drive to town or somewhere else to eat," said Mr Hennessy.

He claimed management's offer to staff at St Fintan's is that meals will be provided at Portlaoise hospital. However, the staff say it is unrealist to avail of that for several reasons within the half-hour break allowed for lunch.

He said the existing canteen in St Fintan's only has a tea-making facility but nothing else "not even a hand towel".

Mr Hennessy said that staff were led to believe that service would be restored to its pre-pandemic delivery as the pandemic ended. Various reasons have been given for its non-restoration such as the national HSE staff recruitment embargo. 

He added that a budget for the canteen was previously allocated to St Fintan's for the canteen but that this has been centralised in Portlaoise hospital.

Mr Tony Martin, is AGS with Fórsa is backing the move.

"It was an arbitrary move on behalf of the hospital to remove a facility that serves over 400," he said.

He said as a union talks are sought with managed to have the services restored. However, he said Portloise hospital nor the HSE will discuss the problem.

"Nobody wants to talk about people's food or how you feed people working for you...All we are seeking is a meeting to at the very least get the canteen where it once was," he said.

Staff working for the child and family agency Tusla are also affected as it has offices in St Fintan's.  Maria Foyle is also a Forsa member said there are no vending machines only some coffee-making and microwave facilities.

The HSE has yet to comment. 

The campaign was backed by Laois General Election candidate Cllr Willie Aird.