Hospital strike threat eases as HSE to hire staff

The threat of strike action at the Acute Psychiatric Unit at University Hospital Galway (UHG) looks set to be averted next week if management follow through on an undertaking to appoint eight new permanent nurses.

Psychiatric nurses at the unit were informed on Wednesday that management are seeking clearance to appoint eight new nurses, eight days after 83% of them voted in favour of industrial action.

The swift move by management to address staffing issues at the 45-bed unit in the wake of the ballot looks set to avert the threat of strike action by members of the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA).

“It would go some way towards addressing our concerns,” said PNA spokesman Michael Hayes on Wednesday.

“If management live up to what they told us today, it looks as though action can be averted.

“The branch felt they had no option but to ballot for industrial action. This had nothing to do with money, or terms and conditions. It had everything to do with the safety of staff and patients.”

Mr Hayes said the number of psychiatric nurses employed by the HSE across the State had deteriorated by 17% due to the moratorium on recruitment. He urged management to employ some of the new nurses who are due to graduate in Galway in September.

“We would argue that as many new nurses as possible be kept on,” he said.

“In Galway, we will have a number of retirements in the services in the coming years. Hopefully, management will follow through on their promises and bring in new graduates.”

Concerns over mental health services at UHG grew following the closure of a 22-bed unit in Ballinasloe earlier this year, which resulted in patients being transferred to Galway.

The ballot for strike action concluded on Tuesday of last week and the result could have seen psychiatric nurses on the picket lines as early as next week. A

spokesperson for the HSE (West) said staffing levels were “constantly reviewed” by clinicians and numbers would be increased depending on the number of patients.

Interviews were held last week to appoint eight new staff to the Acute Unit as an interim solution, with seven nurses presenting to an interview panel. The first of these successful candidates took up employment this week.

Confirmation of the eight new appointments – confirmed to the PNA last Friday and again this week – appears to have averted the threat of strike action.