The State's 1,365 public health nurses have voted to end the dispute on the introduction of the childhood immunisation scheme. The Irish Nurses' Organisation has accepted a proposal which brings to an end a 30-month dispute on the introduction of the scheme in 1996.
An agreement was reached after discussions with the Department of Health, representatives of the health boards and the Irish Medical Organisation. It provides for a management team at local level, a monitoring group at regional level and 32 posts will be advertised within existing staffing resources for a senior public health nurse with special responsibility for immunisation.
The INO says the dispute originated with the introduction, without consultation with the INO, of a GP-centred immunisation scheme which effectively changed the role of public health nurses to one of clerical support for GPs in administering the scheme.
Ms Lenore Mrkwicka, deputy general secretary of the INO, said it succeeded in having the expertise of the public health nurse fully recognised as being vital in achieving the maximum uptake of the childhood immunisation scheme.