Monday 7TH October 2024: The Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) has lifted its industrial action in Mayo, Galway and Roscommon following the resolution of issues blocking the recruitment of all new graduate psychiatric nurses in these counties.
PNA had commenced targeted industrial action on September 16th in response to the refusal by the HSE to recruit all new graduate psychiatric nurses.
Speaking on the lifting of the industrial action, PNA General Secretary, Peter Hughes said the recruitment of new graduate nurses is at the core of addressing the chronic understaffing throughout the mental health services which is impacting daily on the delivery of services.
“While PNA embarked on industrial action reluctantly, it was vitally important for our mental health services that these new graduate nurses secured posts in line with a HSE assurance given last February 2024 that all graduate psychiatric nurses would be recruited into our services.”
“Every one of this year’s 300 nurse graduates are needed at a time when our mental health services are struggling to cope with 700 vacancies that are being maintained through a reliance on agency staff and overtime. PNA remains in talks with the HSE, under the auspices of the WRC, with regard to the large number of vacancies within our mental health services. “
Media contact: Derek Cunningham 086-243053
