Mental health nurses assaulted 190 times in 12 months

Nurses at a dedicated child and adolescent mental health unit in Galway have been subjected to more than 190 assaults since the 12-bed unit opened last year.

According to the Psychiatric Nurses Association, about 25 nursing staff in an €8m, purpose-built unit at Merlin Park hospital are subjected to “repeated and dangerous assaults.”

Over a three-month period from July to the end of September last year, staff suffered 81 assaults, some causing significant injury which resulted in serious sick leave, the PNA said.

On Monday, psychiatric nurses will begin a work-to-rule, calling for management to fill nursing posts, and implement policies on violence and management of aggression to bring the unit in line with national standards.

PNA representative Declan Breen said the issue was not with the client base, and that the nurses would be able to deal with situations arising if they had the resources.

“HSE management have a clear set of proposals to deal with this serious problem but have refused to act on any of them, leaving staff with no choice but to resolve this matter through industrial action,” he said.

“We have 25 staff covering the unit. There are meant to be seven on during the day, but some days there are only three staff.”

Mr Breen said when the unit first opened, the staff were confident.

“Now they are terrified of assaults, and people are seeking transfers because of the stress. This could so easily be dealt with.

“We are not looking for money. What we want is just to have seven staff on in the morning and aggression policies implemented.”

Starting on Monday, staff will not co-operate with management, will not answer phones, and will not use their own cars for official duties.

The PNA is demanding:

* A number of the vacant clinical nurse management posts be filled.

* Internal policies on violence and management of aggression to be agreed, fully implemented, and brought in line with the national standards.

* Short-term reduction in the number of beds.

* Agreed staffing numbers for the unit to be maintained, either through recruitment or agency staff.

Mr Breen warned that action would escalate if management do not deliver a safe workplace.