Psychiatric nurses cancel industrial action after HSE deal

The Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) has cancelled its ongoing industrial action after reaching agreement on a number of issues with the HSE.

Key among those, it said, was the provision of an additional 60 training places this year and a further 70 in 2017, as well as the introduction of new measures to tackle shortages ahead of training up sufficient staff numbers.

The deal struck on Tuesday at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) brings to an end the industrial action, which began six weeks ago.

The PNA said as a result all temporary nurses and 2016 graduates would be offered permanent posts, while the “bureaucratic process” of recruitment would be revised and cut from as long as four months to no more than 28 days.

Association general secretary designate Peter Hughes welcomed the breakthrough which he described as vitally important to the delivery of mental health services.

"This dispute has been a difficult process, but PNA members have been determined that a number of outstanding issues on the recruitment and retention of psychiatric nurses had to be addressed by the HSE and Department of Health, " he said.

“Today’s agreement is hugely important for the future safeguarding of mental health services with an implementation group that will ensure delivery of all parts of the agreement.”