Dr John Hillery speaks to Clare FM’s James Mulhall on PNA Strike, citing recruitment and retention issues for this action. 11.01.2019
The Psychiatric Nurses Association has announced plans for a three-day strike next month, from February 12th to 14th. This follows the strike days announced by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.
CPsychI President, Dr John Hillery refers to the increasing responsibility of nurses who have received no reversal in their conditions, stating “you would have to wonder what would happen to patients in those times”.
“We know in psychiatric care, which is community based – the input of the community psychiatric nurse is vital to keeping people well and in their homes and in their jobs and out of hospital”.
At the same time they are very over stretched, and feel that they have grievances with no way out of them. Dr Hillery assured that “Nurses would not do something like this unless they had no alternative”.
With the announcement from the PNA (Psychiatric Nurses Association) and the INMO (Irish Nurses and Midwife Organisation) to carry out a strike, the issue of recruitment and retention arises. This is an issue which needs to be addressed.
“The key issue is to have realistic proposal that show hope for the future and show that things will change and that we will attract more nurses into the system – but this has not been forthcoming in the last two years”.
There are many reports available about how to retain people in the health services but they have not yet been acted on. Dr Hillery stated that “action needs to be taken and support needs to be made in response to this”.
“Health service workers want to be helping patients. They don’t want to be standing in the cold holding placards. This is not a decision they’ll have taken lightly”
