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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: 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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Created: Thursday, 18 May 2017 15:58
The Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) has today (Thurs. May 18 th .) called on the Minister of State for Mental Health, Helen McEntee T.D. to intervene to prevent the closure from June of half of the beds in the Linn Dara Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) at Cherry Orchard Hospital, Ballyfermot , Dublin.
Eleven of the units 22 beds are due to close for up to three months because of a shortage of nursing staff with 50% of nursing posts currently vacant.
PNA General Secretary, Peter Hughes called on Minister McEntee to intervene urgently to prevent the closure of the unit which will further undermine the provision of child and adolescent mental health services in the greater Dublin region.
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Created: Tuesday, 16 May 2017 15:07
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:
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Created: Thursday, 04 May 2017 10:28
The Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) has today, Thursday 4 th May, expressed deep concern at the admission of a 16 year old child to the adult Acute Mental Health Unit (AMHU )at Waterford Regional Hospital (WRH) last week where they spent the night on a chair.
The PNA said staff at the AMHU was extremely concerned at the incident which is completely unacceptable.
PNA Industrial Relations Officer, Michael Hayes said:
‘Not only was this child admitted to an adult unit, but there was not even a bed available and the child spent the night on a chair. No child should be put in this situation. This incident highlights at the most extreme the crisis in staffing, beds and community services in mental health services in the South East.'
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