40,000 Irish Nurses To Begin Work-To-Rule

More than 40,000 nurses throughout the country are beginning a work-to-rule this morning as part of their campaign for improved pay and conditions.

The action being taken by members of the Irish Nurses Organisation and the Psychiatric Nurses Association is due to begin at 8am.

The unions say the work-to-rule will continue until their demands for a 10% pay increase and a 35 hour working week are met.

Health service employers claim the action will cause severe disruption and, already, some planned operations have been cancelled.

The Minister for Health, Mary Harney, has warned that the work-to-rule will have serious implications for patients and will cause unnecessary anxiety for families.