PSYCHIATRIC NURSES SUSPEND INDUSTRIAL ACTION AT MERLIN PARK

Date Published: 15-Mar-2012

The Psychiatric Nurses Association, the PNA, has suspended its industrial action at the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit in Merlin Park Hospital

It says this is to allow the Labour Relations Commission, the LRC, to assist the parties to resolve the outstanding issues

The PNA had been forced to commence its action in early February due to the failure of HSE management to respond to the high level of assaults on nurses in the Unit.

PNA Industrial Relations Officer, Declan Breen says the union has been able to resolve several of the issues at the centre of the dispute and as a result services can now be provided in a safer environment for both staff and patients.

He adds that since the issues at Merlin Park are not fully resolved with the HSE still refusing to guarantee the agreed staffing level the association now requested the LRC to intervene and refer this matter to the Labour Court if necessary.