PSYCHIATRIC NURSES ASSOCIATION of Ireland

PSYCHIATRIC NURSES ASSOCIATION of Ireland
Tel: 045 852300 Email: info@pna.ie

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Category: Press and Media Information

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The Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) today (Thursday, 10th June ) welcomed the publication of the Mental Health Commission Review Examining the Impacts and Response to Covid -19 in Residential Mental Health Services and said it was a timely and valuable review of the impact of Covid-19 on a particularly vulnerable part of our health services and the lessons that need to be learned for future investment in mental health facilities.

PNA General Secretary, Peter Hughes the MHC Review highlighted the essential element that front line staff, and in particular nurses provide in delivering mental health services and the enormous commitment nurses made to maintain those services even when many nurses had themselves contracted the virus.

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Category: COVID-19 INFORMATION

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As you are aware, vaccine supplies have increased in recent weeks and as a result the programme has gained significant momentum. We continue to administer vaccines as quickly as possible once they arrive into the country. While strictly adhering to the government’s provisional allocation sequencing, we are now administering over 250,000 vaccinations per week. As a result of the vaccination programme we have seen a collapse in case numbers, serious illness and deaths in vaccinated population groups, including our frontline healthcare workers. I am writing to confirm our operational plans in relation to Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca vaccine).

Click here to view/download original PDF...

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Category: PNA Member Information

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Dear Colleagues,

A meeting was held today with the HSE in relation to an update on payroll for this week and next week.
Personnel from payrolls using the SAP system, I.e, North West, Midlands, Mid West, East and South East travelled to Dublin to manually input data in relation to pay. Non SAP areas ie South, West and North manually inputted on location.

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Category: Students

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Student Nurse Colleagues

As you are aware, the PNA and INMO have been lobbying on behalf of student nursing and midwifery members in relation to financial supports due to the effect of COVID-19 on students on clinical placement this year.

Following extensive engagement with the Department of Health, the HSE have issued HR Memo re Student Pandemic Grant regarding the Pandemic Placement Grant (PPG) of €100 per week of supernumerary clinical placement from the 1st of September 2020 to the end of the 2020/2021 academic year.

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Category: News & Events

Many thanks to those of you who joined us last week for our webinar:

ADVERSITY as an OPPORTUNITY with Dr Felipe Contepomi, Leinster Rugby Backs Coach and RCSI Alumni.

https://vimeo.com/540202101

It was a super event, and we are taking this opportunity to offer our appreciation to our contributors and colleagues who all worked so hard to make this happen.

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Category: COVID-19 INFORMATION

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Date: February 5th, 2021

I am writing to update you on our plans for vaccination of front-line healthcare workers in the upcoming weeks. Firstly, I would like to take this opportunity to once again thank you for your hard work and dedication to our patients throughout 2020 and in January 2021, which has been the most difficult month to date for all of us.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW/DOWNLOAD THIS LETTER - PDF

and HERE FOR SEQUENCING AND REGISTRATION PROCESS FOR HCW COVID VACCINATION FEBRUARY 5TH 2021

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Category: COVID-19 INFORMATION

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REF:MHEM0121

CIRCULAR TO ALL PNA MEMBERS 29/01/21

Dear Colleagues,

Please find attached updated information on the current Covid-19’ vaccination program. As you know, the PNA has expressed its ongoing frustration at how vaccines were being distributed and the belief that some Mental Health settings had been left behind. The PNA issued a press release last Friday, January 22nd, and communicated with the HSE the many frustrating and infuriating examples experienced by our membership.

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Category: Press and Media Information

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The Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) today (Friday, 22nd January) expressed serious concerns at the delayed and sporadic roll-out of the Covid -19 vaccine throughout the mental health and intellectual disability (ID) services.

Mr Peter Hughes, PNA General Secretary, said there is growing concern by both staff and service users that they are not being sufficiently prioritised for vaccination and are not being communicated properly with on the scheduling of the vaccine delivery.

He said frontline mental health and intellectual disability staff and service users are among the most vulnerable to infection in the health services, yet they are not being prioritised and many of them are now feeling left behind in the current vaccination roll-out.

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Category: Uncategorised

Dear Colleagues

At very short notice this evening the PNA were requested to attend a meeting with the Department of Health (DOH) at 7.45 pm in relation to the suspension of student nurse clinical placements. At the meeting the DOH outlined that the HSE had informed them that they would re redeploying staff who support undergraduate training in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

In light of this the DOH has decided to suspend clinical placements for years 1 – 3 from Monday 18th for two weeks. The Department confirmed that this placement will not have to be paid back at a later date. The DOH also stated that there is currently no intention to secure the services of year 1 – 3 students as employees. Intern 4th year students will continue on placement.

We have sought clarity in relation to the pay rate for interns and are seeking that they are paid at the higher rate which applied to them last March, i.e.; HCA rate.

We have informed the DOH that we are available over the weekend to engage

Yours sincerely

Peter Hughes

General Secretary

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Category: COVID-19 INFORMATION

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Please find attached Circular 073/2020 re Special Leave with Pay for Covid-19

Please also find attached Circular 074/2020 and accompanying appendices re updated FAQ’s re working arrangements and leave associated with Covid 19. Click the following links to view/download...

HR Circular 073 2020 Application of Special Leave with Pay for COVID-19

HR Circular 074 2020 -Updated FAQs re working arrangements and leave associated with COVID-19

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Category: Events

The PNA was delighted to collaborate with the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery and REACH RCSI and stage a play “A Face in the Crowd” on February 4th 2020.

This piece of theatre originated in Co Wexford supported by Wexford Mental Health Association and was created by local individuals for their community,  and written by former psychiatric nurse Niall O’Muiri. Born out of the belief that through the telling of real stories of the lived experience of people with Mental Illness we become aware of the recovery process from mental health difficulties, this play provided the opportunity to unearth insights that may better inform our futures.

Lafayette0701

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Category: Press and Media Information

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Thursday 26th November 2020 – The Annual Delegate Conference of the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) – which is taking place online – has been told that despite growing demand at all levels for mental health services that the percentage of the overall health budget for mental health has actually decreased by 1%.

The conference also heard that up to 200 extra nurses will be required for the full opening of the new National Forensic Mental Health Services in Portrane , in North County Dublin next year. 

Commenting on the overall percentage reduction in the mental health budget PNA General Secretary, Peter Hughes told the Conference:

“This is outrageous and clearly highlights the lack of understanding of our politicians of the inadequacy of our current services or the extent of the growing demands for mental health services at every level.”

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Category: COVID-19 INFORMATION

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Since the start of the pandemic the HSE’s Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control (AMRIC) has published or updated over 100 guidelines and protocols to help healthcare staff, service providers and the public reduce the spread of COVID-19. Three important new guidelines have been published this month and one update that reflect the Government Framework levels 1 – 5. Please familiarise yourself with guidance that is relevant for your service.