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

The Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) said today (Monday 7th August) that new figures from the Health Service Executive on staffing in the mental health services  confirm  the lack of progress by the Government in the implementation of  the Vision for Change strategy – the blueprint for the development of mental health services which was launched over ten years ago.

Peter Hughes, PNA General Secretary, said the confirmation in PQ replies to Fianna Fail’s Deputy James Brown that there is still a shortfall in staffing of almost 2000 to meet the targets for service delivery as set out in Vision for Change highlight the shamefully inadequate progress in the implementation of what was to be the model for total reform of mental health services.

‘Despite commitment after commitment from various Ministers for Health and Ministers  of State for Mental Health the full implementation of Vison for Change, particularly with regard to the recruitment of staff, remains as aspirational as it was at its high profile launch a decade ago.  The HSE figures reveal that only 93 new staff were recruited this year despite soaring demand in all areas of the mental health services and the HSE’s own admission that 1,963 new posts have to be filled if the level of staffing required in Vision for Change is to be achieved.‘

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Category: Uncategorised

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland - Elections 2017

 

Dear Colleagues,

The nominations for NMBI Board elections closed on the 3rd July 2017.

The PNA nominated Ms Catherine Cocoman, Kildare Mental Health Services for the Psychiatric Nursing Category.

Catherine was the only nominee for this category and therefore was deemed elected to the Board.

I wish to take this opportunity to congratulate Catherine on her election.

 

The PNA nominated Mr Liam Hamill, St Joseph’s I.D. Services Portrane to the Intellectual Disability Category

Liam is also the I.D. rep on the Officer Board of the PNA

As there are 2 nominations for this category an election will take place.

Election and E-voting Information will be issued on or before 31st August to every nurse and midwife registered with NMBI as of the 21st August 2017 at 1pm

The electronic ballot will take place on wed 20th September of 2017 at 9am and the ballot will close on Thursday 28th September at noon.

Your support for Liam would be greatly appreciated and in this regard we are hoping to encourage all members to for Liam Hamill for the ID category.

We will be sending out further information and calling to services prior to the election.

Yours sincerely

Peter Hughes, 

General Secretary

 

 

 

 

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Category: Latest News


PNA General Secretary, Peter Hughes address the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs on the issue of the crisis in CAMHS services

Thank you for your invitation to address the Joint Committee on Children and Youth affairs. As General Secretary of the Psychiatric Nurses Association, I would like to highlight my concerns in relation to the Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

The inadequacies and underinvestment in the current provision of CAMHS services is something that my union has consistently drawn attention to and I would hope that the interest by the Committee in this area will help in addressing the many gaps in CAMHS services that exist throughout the country.

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Category: PNA Blog

Aisling Culhane Research & Development Advisor & General Secretary of Horatio congratulates the new President of ICN Annette Kennedy Ireland

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Category: Press and Media Information

The Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) said today (Thursday 25 th May) it was extremely disappointed and angry after talks with the Health Service Executive (HSE) to avert the closure from June 1 st  of 11 of the 22 inpatient beds at the Linn Dara Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) at Cherry Orchard Hospital, Ballyfermot , Dublin  ended without agreement.

PNA General Secretary, Peter Hughes said PNA had put forward proposals to HSE to address the staffing shortage at Linn Dara, but these were rejected by management. Half of the 34 nursing posts in Linn Dara are currently vacant.

‘The HSE was able to tell us that there is a waiting list of 20 children for Linn Dara, but they were unable to consider realistic proposals to meet the staffing shortage and keep these vital beds open. 

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Category: Press and Media Information

Press Release

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

The IMO, INMO and PNA representing Doctors, Nurses, including Psychiatric Nurses, and Midwives, employed throughout our public health service, met today to consider the Public Sector Pay Commission Report, and, in particular, the issues highlighted by that Report in relation to the recruitment/retention of staff in the Health Sector. 

The issues of recruitment and retention of medical and nursing staff, in our health services, must be addressed in the context of the forthcoming public sector pay negotiations. 

The IMO, INMO and PNA are therefore calling on Government to ensure that there is sufficient flexibility within the talks, to deal with this problem, and to cease adopting a “head in the sand” approach to the manpower crisis within our hospitals, community and mental health services which have a significant negative impact on the delivery of care to patients across the country.

The three unions also endorsed, and support, the collective approach, of Public Service Unions, to seek restoration of pay and hours attacked in recent years.

Doctors, Nurses and Midwives, working in the public health service, have struggled through years of cutbacks to deliver the best care to patients in highly pressurised and under resourced working environments.  The HSE is no longer an employer of choice for a growing number of doctors, nurses and midwives whose skills are actively sought by European and International Health Organisations. Such organisations, not only offer better terms and conditions but also provide an environment that allows them to do the job for which they have trained.

We simply cannot ignore the facts of the situation any longer which include: