Nurses union warns of ward closures

The Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) has warned that whole hospital wards could close as a result of an overtime ban on its members.

The protest, which the Health Service Executive (HSE) says is ¿unnecessary¿, is over health service proposals for compensation to nurses who are injured during the course of their work.

Since Thursday, PNA and Siptu members have worked rostered hours only. Bans have also been put on place on assisting admissions, accompanying patients to Tribunals, and attendance at non-essential meetings.

Last night, beds were closed in three hospitals in Leinster. The hospitals concerned were Tallaght General, St Vincent's Hospitals in Dublin and Naas General Hospital in County Kildare.

Des Kavanagh, PNA General Secretary, said the impact of the overtime ban has been felt in different parts of the country with the acute unit in Tallaght closing to admissions and psychiatric beds in general and specialist hospitals cut around the country.

Mr Kavanagh said nurses were co-operating with nurse managers and other managers on the wards but warned that the unions might withdraw that support in the coming week.

"It seems a lot of places are barely hanging in there at the moment," he said.

"That is because we've allowed the redeployment of staff with some nurse managers and other managers going on to the wards to support the staff and maintain services.

"There are many examples of hostels and day services and units around the country being closed as staff are moved in to essential services.

"Obviously our goodwill in providing that support may well be withdrawn in the coming week in order to force a conclusion to the dispute."

However, the HSE insisted it believes the dispute to be "unnecessary" and said patients were being affected "unnecessarily".

It says the benefits contained in the HSE compensation scheme introduced in January 2008 are standard and within the typical range for the benefits under a personal accident policy.

In a statement released today, Mr Brendan Mulligan, Assistant CEO, Health Service Executive - Employers Agency said: "Even at this stage we would urge the unions to pull back from creating any discomfort or concern to patients and to accept this scheme which was agreed following exhaustive discussions in the Labour Relations commission and the subject of a Labour Court hearing."

The Mental Health Commission (MHC) has expressed its concern that the dispute is having a serious impact on the welfare of patients of approved centres.

Brid Clarke, Chief Executive of the MHC, said: "The Commission is concerned that this dispute is having a serious and negative impact on the patients of approved mental health facilities."

"We urge all of the parties concerned to come to an agreement so that the welfare of patients is protected."

The Mental Health Commission is the independent statutory body with responsibility for promoting and fostering high standards and good practices in the delivery of mental health services.

Fine Gael's mental health spokesman Dan Neville, called on the HSE to intervene in the dispute before disruption occured.

"Psychiatric services across the country have already been disrupted as a result of the refusal by members of the Psychiatric Nurses' Association to work overtime. The HSE must open negotiations immediately with the PNA to resolve the situation by Wednesday, when it is proposed to escalate the dispute," he said.