Member Information

PNA Member Information

Vaccination Rollout Update

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Dear Colleagues,

As you are aware from my previous correspondences on this issue, we meet with the HSE on a weekly basis regarding the Covid Vaccination program and discuss issues regarding its rollout. It would be an understatement to say that the process has had a rough start but we have been assured that improvements are imminent.

Unfortunately, although we did report last week that it was hoped that all frontline staff would be completed by the end of February, it would now appear that completion of all frontline staff will not happen until the first week of March. This is due to the numbers of available vaccines.

PNA / RCSI Webinars 2020 - View the Videos!

Videos from the successful summer and winter webinar series can now be viewed here...

Flu Vaccination

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Dear Colleagues,

I am to refer to the current roll out of the flu vaccination program and guidelines issued by the HSE regarding mandatory risk assessments for staff who, for whatever reason, do not receive the vaccination.

Update Regarding the use of Masks and Priority Testing Currently Underway

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Dear Colleagues,

Following engagement between the Health Sector Unions and the HSE today (April 21st), the following has been clarified.

1) The Wearing of Masks.
The HSE and Occupational Health Department have confirmed that all health care workers should now wear masks while caring for patients when they are within a 2 meter distance. Masks should be worn in any scenario where care is being provided and social distancing of 2 metres cannot be adhered to. This includes all community and residential settings. Further instruction on this will be issued by the HSE in the coming days.

2) Priority Testing.
It has also been confirmed that the priority testing, currently underway in the Nursing Home sector, will also incorporate residential settings within the Mental Health and Intellectual Disability Services. This priority testing will encompass all residents and staff within these settings.

NMBI Annual Retention Fees for 2020

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The NMBI wishes to thank all nurses and midwives who have paid their annual retention fees for 2020. Almost 95% of registrants have renewed to date.

For those who have not yet renewed, the fee is now overdue and there is a danger of removal from the register.

Senior Staff Nurse

Dear Members,

As you are aware part of the pay commission recommendation is that the eligibility for Senior Staff Nurse is reduced from 20 to 17 years.

This will take effect from 1st November 2019. It is imperative that members who have 17 years plus staff nurse experience apply to their Director of Nursing for Senior Staff Nurse before 1st November 2019 in order to have your application submitted prior to the implementation date.

Please bring this to the attention of any member who meets the criteria of 17+ years experience

Yours sincerely

Peter Hughes

General Secretary

Labour Court Proceedings - Update 08.08.19

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Dear Colleagues,

We attended a reconvene of the Labour Court today and presented supplementary submissions regarding recruitment and retention.

The Court is now considering these additional submission and will revert in due course

An update will be provided as soon as we have more information.

Thank you for your continued patience and support.

Yours sincerely,

Peter Hughes

General Secretary

PNA Update on Labour Court Proceedings

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Update 31/07/19

Dear Colleagues,

We attended the Labour Court today (31/07/19) and presented our submissions.

The Court have requested some clarifications from all parties and in this regard we are reconvening next Thursday 8th August in the Labour Court.

An update will be provided as soon as we have more information.

Thank you for your continued patience and support.

Yours sincerely,

Peter Hughes

General Secretary

PHPG Circular to members re R&R members not making themselves available to work beyond their contracted hours12.07.19

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12 th July 2019

Dear Colleagues,

Following intensive discussions with senior officials from the HSE in relation to members not making themselves available to work beyond their contracted hours, the PNA have agreed to suspend their current instruction on the basis that progress has been made in respect on the following issues:

• There has been significant progress in relation to proceeding with the recruitment of Mental Health Nursing Approved Posts ;

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FOSTER A CHILD

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Re: Recruitment & Retention - Notice to Members - 9th July 2019

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09 th July 2019

Re: Recruitment & Retention

Dear Branches

An NEC was held yesterday 08 th July 2019 in relation to our members not making themselves available to work hours above their contracted hours.

The following decisions were made at the NEC:

• Our members will not make themselves available for hours above their contracted hours from the commencement of the day shift on Thursday July 11th. This will continue for the duration of the day shift (e.g. 8pm) on Thursday July 11th.

• Our members will not make themselves available for hours above their contracted hours from the commencement of the day shift on Friday July 12th and will continue thereafter on a 24-hour basis.