Progress made in psychiatric nurses talks

Psychiatric nurses involved in an ongoing dispute with the Health Service Executive (HSE) have promised not to escalate their…

Psychiatric nurses involved in an ongoing dispute with the Health Service Executive (HSE) have promised not to escalate their industrial action after making significant progress in talks held at the Labour Relations Commission today.

Earlier this week the Psychiatric Nurses' Association (PNA) and Siptu, which represent over 8,000 psychiatric nurses, began industrial action over a HSE compensation scheme for psychiatric nurses injured at work.

Following the adjournment of talks between the two sides late last night, the psychiatric nurses' unions and the HSE met again today in a bid to end the industrial action which has led to the closure of the Lakeview Acute Mental Health Unit at Naas General Hospital.

A statement released tonight said that the unions had worked out a framework proposal with the HSE to conclude negotiations on a new compensation scheme.

It said that further talks between the psychiatric nurses' unions and the HSE would take place on Monday and Tuesday

The two unions stressed tonight that while the current overtime ban will remain place over the next few days, but the PNA and Siptu have deferred the planned escalation of the dispute from Monday.

Charlie Taylor

Charlie Taylor

Charlie Taylor is a former Irish Times business journalist