6,000 nurses work to rule in protest at compensation

NATIONWIDE workto-rule protests by 6,000 psychiatric and mental health nurses will start today — three weeks ahead of similar action by 28,000 other health professionals.

Des Kavanagh of the Psychiatric Nurses’ Association said the Health Service Executive (HSE) has warned nurses it will cut their pay if they proceed with this morning’s action. In response, the nurses have said they will start a full-blown strike from next Wednesday.

The stand-off has been sparked by the compensation programme unveiled by the Government recently.

The association claims what was produced by the Government failed to offer meaningful compensation for workers injured in a potentially dangerous workplace.

It said under the scheme, if a nurse was pushed to the ground and kicked, and the kick resulted in a laceration to the kidneys, the liver or the spleen, it would not be covered. A nurse would only be compensated for the loss of two eyes — not one.

“While the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) redress scheme was described as providing a normal level of cover we are to get about 12% to 15% of the PIAB,” said Mr Kavanagh.

Last night the HSE said it would advise the protesting staff to follow the industrial relations route rather than resorting to disruptive action.

Meanwhile, 28,000 health professionals will begin their work-to-rule on May 21 in protest at the HSE recruitment freeze and its effect on services and staff.

Impact national secretary Kevin Callinan said: “The staffing freeze is having a devastating effect on services and staff. The effect of the cuts has so far varied, depending on where vacancies have arisen, but it’s only a matter of time before all services and staff are affected. As well as curtailing existing services, the freeze has delayed promised improvements in areas like primary care, mental health services and care for older people.”

Martin McDonald, national director of human resources with the HSE said: “The HSE is required to deliver health services within the financial resources provided by the Government for 2008. This poses many challenges not least of which is to ensure that resources are targeted at front-line services.

“The threat of industrial action, which is outlawed under the current national agreement, Towards 2016, is the cause of unnecessary concern and worry to those who avail of both community and hospital services.”