Psychiatric nurses serve notice of industrial action

THE Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) has served notice of industrial action on the Health Service Executive because of its failure to properly facilitate the planned closure of mental health services at St Ita’s Hospital.

Last year, the psychiatric hospital in north Dublin was ordered by the Mental Health Commission to cease all acute admissions by February 2011 — and then August 2011 — as the unit was unfit for purpose.

An agreement was made between the HSE and the PNA as to how this would progress, but the PNA says no alternative to has been provided — nor has the unit been refurbished.