Nursing staff (members of the Psychiatric Nurses Association) at St Ita's Hospital in Portane, North Dublin will ballot over the next two days for industrial action, up to and including strike action in protest at the growing impact of staff shortages at the St Joseph's centre for Intellectual Disability within St Ita's.
The ballot of 44O PNA members for industrial action follows an Emergency General Meeting of nursing staff in the mental health and ID services in St Ita's at which the impact of the staff shortages in St Joseph's unit were detailed. These include:
- Closure/reduction of services
- Continuity of care affected
- Health, Safety & Welfare of Service Users and Staff compromised
- Cancellation of mandatory training
- Increase in stress levels
- Low staff morale
- Continuous Professional Development difficulties
PNA Branch Secretary, Michael Guilfoyle said the impact of these staff shortages have made the situation for staff at St Joseph's intolerable.
‘St Joseph's is recognised under the Mental Health Commission as an Approved centre for Duel diagnosis.( Mental health and Intellectual disability) yet the community houses there are losing nursing staff who are then replaced by Health Care Assistants (HCA's) which impacts on the clinical care needs of clients.'
‘Two permanent nursing staff members have resigned after being e denied a career break for a children nursing course in Temple St. due to staff shortages .Some community houses have closed with residents transferred to full time residential care in order to allow staff to fill vacancies in frontline services on different days.'
Mr Guilfoyle said not surprisingly there has been a growing number of staff looking for transfers or jobs in other services due to stress levels and lack of management support in ID service.
‘The ballot for industrial action has been forced on our members in both Mental Health and I.D Services due to the breach of Agreements already in place between the PNA, senior management and the HSE. Nurses feel they are being left with no option but to embark on industrial action in order to protect our services and the safe delivery of care to all service users and staff, which is of the utmost importance'
Media Contacts : Mick 0862524594/ Derek Cunningham 0862430535
