Mental health services in Ireland could be hit by strikes after the Psychiatric Nurses’ Association (PNA) voted overwhelmingly for industrial action over a recruitment embargo.
PNA, which has a membership of between 6,500 and 7,000 people, said the industrial action is not about pay, but about patient care and cited that its nurses are in an “impossible position” in delivering mental health services.
The move follows the alleged refusal by the Health Service Executive’s (HSE) to exempt mental health services from the recruitment embargo, which is in place since November last year.
HSE has been given three weeks’ notice of commencement of industrial action after 96 per cent of the union voted in favour of the strike.
According to PNA general secretary, Peter Hughes, there are over 700 vacancies in mental health services in the country.