Plans for €15m psychiatric unit back on track

Plans to open a new €15m psychiatric unit at Cork University Hospital are back on track following a breakthrough in talks designed to address concerns over staffing and health and safety issues.

The state-of-the-art acute unit was due to open last month but unions representing workers objected, primarily on the grounds of inadequate staffing. The Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) said some of its concerns date to August 2013.

However, the 50-bed unit is now expected to open on March 11 after progress was made in conciliation talks held this week under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission.