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Threat to mental health services

Date Released: 25 Apr 2008

Members of SIPTU and the PNA have rejected the compensation package on offer for nurses working in the mental health services who are injured as a result of an assault at work.  Both unions have balloted their members and the vote in favour of taking action to secure improvements in the scheme were overwhelming.

According to SIPTU's National Nursing Official, Louise O'Reilly, "the scheme which the HSE has proposed will devalue the role of the psychiatric nurse.  We have exhausted every procedure in pursuance of this legitimate claim.  The HSE has conceded that a scheme should be put in place to compensate nurses.  It is regrettable therefore that we have to resort to taking action to ensure that the terms of the scheme offer a decent level of compensation for nurses who are injured or assaulted at work."

As and from Wednesday, April 30, 2008 SIPTU and PNA members will withdraw their goodwill from their employer.  We are directing all members to stop propping up the health services by imposing a ban on overtime; a ban on assisted admissions; a ban on accompanying patients to tribunals and a ban on attendance at non-essential meetings.  Members will work their rostered hours only," she concluded.





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