Psychiatric nurses vow not to cooperate with Mental Health Act
The Psychiatric Nurses Association said its 4,800 members have not been consulted on how the more important changes will be implemented and what they are expected to do after November 1.
PNA industrial relations’ officer Seamus Murphy is adamant that major reforms will not be sprung on nurses without clear guidelines.
“If it is the expectation of the HSE that psychiatric nurses will significantly change work practices without them (the HSE) having any discussions with us then they have to wake up because that is not going to happen.”
It shares the concerns of the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) on two fundamental aspects of the Act:
* The setting up of quasi-judicial mental health review tribunals for all patients.
* The ability to detain minors involuntarily with District Court permission.
Both groups are particularly concerned that, without dedicated units, the detention of minors will effectively place teenagers in adult psychiatric wards.
However, the HSE said it is surprised by both parties and it feels it has made every effort to accommodate various stakeholders.
Its national care group coordinator for mental health, Martin Rogan, said the system will be ready for next month.
“The Government is very anxious that until this legislation is enacted it is behind [European law]... so November one will happen and the Mental Health Act will go live.”
For its part, the IHCA says the HSE has done nothing to put in place structures to support the Act and its members are “very fearful” about how vulnerable patients will fare.
The IHCA says it was promised 20 additional consultant positions so that the review tribunals would not be a drain on existing resources but Dr Wrigley says to her knowledge only one person has been hired.
Mr Rogan argued that the HSE had put the funding in place but recruiting consultants for €160,000 a year jobs was a slow process.
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