Psychiatric nurses nationwide will commence industrial action tomorrow in protest against the Health Service Executive's (HSE) Pay and Numbers Strategy, which they claim will lead to a significant reduction in mental health services.
The Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) has strongly criticized the HSE for not exempting mental health services from proposed cuts to nursing staff, despite increasing demand and ongoing resource constraints.
The PNA has labelled the current recruitment restrictions as "unacceptable," saying it will have severe repercussions for both healthcare workers and vulnerable patients.
The union warns that these measures will increase workload pressures, reduce the standard of patient care, and further strain already overstretched mental health facilities.
This issue is not exclusive to psychiatric nurses. Other major healthcare unions, including the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), Fórsa, and Unite, have also raised concerns regarding the HSE’s workforce policies.
These unions have accused the HSE of failing to acknowledge the urgency of the staffing crisis and have been engaged in their own separate disputes over recruitment and employment restrictions.
In response, the HSE has defended its strategy, stating that the measures introduced are necessary to maintain workforce stability in a sustainable manner. While acknowledging the concerns raised by unions, the HSE insists that it remains open to dialogue to prevent further disruption.
