Portlaoise midwife numbers 'immoral'

The head of the INMO has described the midwife to patient ratio at Portlaoise hospital as immoral.

Reports this morning suggest that in January, Portlaoise Maternity unit had only 1 midwife for 70 births, compared to the internationally recommended ratio of one to 29.5.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation says the low level of nurses is affecting patient safety – and leading to death in some cases.

Juliette Gash reports from Kilkenny;
 

Ann Burke is a clinical nurse manager in the emergency department of a hospital in the West of Ireland.

She explains that overworking has become the 'new normal' for nurses;