Nurses ballot on action over Galway psychiatric unit concerns

Ballot papers are being distributed this morning (Tuesday) among psychiatric nurses at University College Hospital Galway (UHG) to decide if they should take industrial action over staffing and concerns for patient care and safety at the hospital’s psychiatric unit.

The decision to ballot on industrial action came after the nurses, all members of the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA), took part in a protest at UHG last Thursday.

Staff at the 45 bed acute psychiatric unit at UHG have raised concerns over patient care and believe additional staff is needed to meet the extra demand on its service following the closure of the acute unit at Ballinasloe.

General Secretary of the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) Des Kavanagh, said that while management had given yet another commitment to recruit staff there was no indication that this would happen.

“With the urgency needed to satisfactorily address the concerns for patient safety and care at the unit in the short term, we have asked management time and again for extra staffing.

“The HSE are not recognising the seriousness of the situation at UHG and the unsafe environment there for staff and patients. The impact of under-staffing on the provision of services and the safety of both staff and patients is enormous and staff are not prepared to allow this situation to continue.”

Following the PNA’s decision locally to ballot for industrial action, ballot papers will be distributed to over 100 psychiatric nurses working in Galway. The ballot will close on July 22.

Read more in this week’s Connacht Sentinel