Over 1,300 nursing and midwifery posts have been left vacant in Irish hospitals, according to the INMO.

One in six midwife posts are currently vacant, while there are over 400 vacancies in public health and community nursing and over 900 in the acute hospital system.

Tony Fitzpatrick, Director of Industrial Relations with the INMO, says that these posts are left vacant for between 6-12 months.

He was joined by Priscilla Lynch, Clinical Editor of the Medical Independent, and Colm Burke, Fine Gael senator and member of the Oireachtas Health Committee, to discuss why this is happening.

Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page.