Retirement of nurses hits psychiatric care

A LARGE number of nurse retirements is impacting severely on the care of psychiatric patients in Kerry, it has been claimed.

The retirements are also “hastening” the closure of St Finan’s Hospital in Killarney, even though sufficient alternative accommodation is not yet available for the hospital’s patients, according to the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA).

Some of the retirements are coming prior to changes in public service pension entitlements, effective from the end of February.