The anti-sectarianism unit of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions has made an offer to help and tackle tension between Catholic and Protestant workers at the Mater Hospital in north Belfast.

The Mater Hospital Trust said the recent situation in north Belfast, had been difficult for the local community and that “some staff have been directly affected”.

It is reported that tensions within the hospital, based on the Crumlin Road in north Belfast, have been reportedly running high for some time.

The situation deteriorated further in September when Protestant residents of Glenbryn restarted their protest at Holy Cross Girls' Primary School in nearby Ardoyne.

The health workers' union Unison has said tensions between workers at the Mater Hospital has become so bad that it had asked the hospital's managers to contact the union's Counteract agency to try to resolve the situation.

In a statement on Monday March 11, the Mater Hospital Trust's managers said they had agreed to Unison's request that they should make contact with Counteract to get suggestions for additional anti-sectarianism training for workers.

But the trust said it “refutes the allegation that groups of workers are refusing to speak and co-operate with each other and are boycotting one another”.

“The Trust has in place training for all staff on equal opportunities, diversity and promotes a neutral working environment. The trust confirms that staff have continued to work together to provide services to our patients and the local community.”

(AMcE)