A MIDWIFE at Cork University Maternity Hospital has spoken of staff leaving work in tears because of the stress of life in the overstretched health service.

Ahead of a nationwide strike by nurses and midwives on Wednesday, Naomi O’Donovan, a midwife at Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH), said hospital conditions are leading to burnout amongst staff and an increase in those leaving to work abroad.

“There are people out on sick leave every day. People are completely burnt out because of the huge workload.

“Some go home from work crying,” she said.

Margaret Frahill, a nurse manager at the Mercy University Hospital, said the conditions are leading to missed care.

“We know that we’re not giving every patient the care we want to give them,” she added.

More than 1,100 patients have been left waiting on trolleys and in wards in Cork since the beginning of 2019, it has been revealed.