Strike threat by mental health staff looms

STRIKE action by up to 6,000 nurses working in psychiatric and mental health services could begin as early as April 30.

The Psychiatric Nurses’ Association and SIPTU, which represents the nurses, are to meet in the coming days to discuss the nature of the action sparked by the compensation programme unveiled by the Government in recent weeks.

The nurses and health service have been debating the compensation scheme for assaults at work for a number of years without any real agreement.