CUH staffing issues delay psychiatric unit opening

The opening of a €15m acute psychiatric unit is now almost two months behind schedule after staff rejected proposals aimed at securing their agreement to transfer to the new state-of-the-art building.

The HSE had planned a January opening of the unit on the grounds of Cork University Hospital, but unions objected on the grounds of major concerns over health and safety.

Both the Psychiatric Nurses Association and Siptu said the key issue was the proposed staffing level for the 50-bed unit.