Nursing Staff At St Ita's Hospital Ballot Over Strike Action

Nursing staff, who are members of the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA), at St Ita's Hospital in Portane, North Dublin will ballot over the next two days for industrial action.

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: "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."

(CD)