10% of psych nurses to retire, survey suggests

Emerging figures from a nationwide survey of psychiatric nurses points to a retirement rate of at least 10% across a 4,000-strong membership of full-time nurses affiliated to the Psychiatric Nurses Association.

The PNA today will reveal the full extent of the exodus from the mental health services, but it is understood the figures are at about 10% in many areas, rising to as high as 15% and 20% in the West.

The loss of these frontline staff members comes on top of about 500 vacant posts across the mental health services. There is huge concern that community facilities will close countrywide to sustain inpatient hospital services. Although €35m was allocated to the mental health services in the last budget to recruit psychologists and fill other vacant posts in community teams, when cuts are taken into account the overall budget has remained the same.