HSE ‘drags feet’ over safety at psych unit

The HSE has been accused of "dragging its feet" in implementing safety measures at a psychiatric unit where 44 incidents of alleged violence on staff took place in a three-month period.

The Psychiatric Nurses’ Association also said it had to use the Freedom of Information Act to get a copy of a report of an inspection by the Health and Safety Authority at the psychiatric admissions unit in Kerry General Hospital, Tralee.

Cormac Williams of the PNA said the union had sought a meeting with the HSE to improve the working environment for patients and staff following the report, but that had not happened.