Psychiatric Nurses Association begins industrial action in dispute over staffing numbers

Michael Bolton

Members of the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) have begun industrial action in response to a dispute over staffing numbers.

The industrial action throughout the mental health services will take the form of a ‘work to rule’ with nurses only performing duties that are part of the core nursing role.

The PNA has accused the Health Service Executive of failing to exempt mental health services from proposed cuts in nursing numbers and restrictions on recruitment.

PNA General Secretary, Peter Hughes said the union has been left with no option but to embark on industrial action in the interests of maintaining services and the development of mental health services into the future.

“As a result of the Pay and Numbers Strategy, staffing in mental health services has been reduced to unsustainable levels and service delivery and development has been impacted across the services.

"We have reached an impasse with the HSE and while we will continue to engage under the auspices of the WRC we are insisting that these are meaningful talks with a view to resolving the issues of staffing in mental health services and the streamlining of nurse recruitment into the services.”