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Created: Monday, 07 August 2017 10:25
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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Created: Tuesday, 04 July 2017 04:17
The FSEM Annual Scientific Conference will be taking place in September in RCSI, and this year's theme will be “ Exercise Medicine & Physical Activity for Health ”.
So whilst there will still be a Sports Medicine component in the conference, it has been have decided this year to focus on the “Exercise Medicine” part of the specialty as the main theme. Dr Nick Mahony (FSEM Vice-Dean) and Prof Niall Moyna (FSEM Board Member) are co-ordinating this year's conference.
This event will take place on 15 th and 16 th September 2017 , and the conference website is www.fsem2017.com
Deadline for abstract submission: 27 th July 2017
Deadline for early bird registration: 1 st August 2017
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Created: Wednesday, 28 June 2017 15:05
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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Created: Wednesday, 31 May 2017 15:54
Aisling Culhane Research & Development Advisor & General Secretary of Horatio congratulates the new President of ICN Annette Kennedy Ireland
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Created: Thursday, 25 May 2017 16:01
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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