Psychiatric nurses across the country are set to begin industrial action tomorrow in response to the Health Service Executive's (HSE) Pay and Numbers Strategy, which their union claims will lead to significant reductions in mental health services.
The Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) has accused the HSE of failing to exempt their sector from proposed cuts to nursing numbers, despite the critical nature of mental health care and the existing pressures on services.
The PNA has described the current recruitment restrictions as "unacceptable," arguing that the constraints will have severe consequences for both staff and patients. The union has expressed concerns that the HSE’s approach will result in increased workloads, decreased patient care standards, and added strain on already overburdened mental health facilities.
According to the union, the Pay and Numbers Strategy, if fully implemented, will lead to a net loss of approximately 700 psychiatric nursing positions across the country.
The dispute over staffing numbers is not isolated to the PNA. Other health sector unions, including the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), Fórsa, and Unite, have also raised serious concerns about the HSE’s workforce management policies.
In response to the growing criticism, the HSE has defended its Pay and Numbers Strategy, arguing that the measures introduced have enabled it to stabilise workforce numbers in a financially sustainable manner. However, the organization has also acknowledged the concerns raised by the unions and has stated that it remains open to discussions aimed at resolving the dispute.
