HSE clears outspoken nurse for return to work

The HSE has written to a mental health nurse it put off duty for speaking to the media, clearing him for a return to work.

The development occurred after the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) threatened to withdraw from talks designed to resolve a row over the opening of a psychiatric facility on the grounds of Cork University Hospital if Des McSweeney was not allowed to return to work.

Mr McSweeney, a mental health nurse at CUH, said he had been snowed under with support from other nurses after the Irish Examiner reported on Friday that he had been put off duty for his public criticism of the HSE’s new €15m psychiatric facility.

“I have received messages of support from all over the country, including phone calls and texts, nurses telling me ‘you are not alone’ and ‘we support your stance’,” said Mr McSweeney. “I even had one 80-year-old retired mental health nurse ringing to offer her support.”

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Mr McSweeney had been warned by the HSE that he was in breach of its communications protocol after he aired concerns about the 50-bed unit in the Irish Examiner and on national radio. He had been concerned about proposed staffing levels and unit layout, as well as the temporary shelving of plans for a new high-observation unit.

Despite the HSE warning about speaking out, Mr McSweeney went on to give an interview to local radio station Red FM, after which he was put off duty with full pay and told he would remain so pending a review.

However, PNA general secretary Des Kavanagh said he would not attend Labour Relations Commission talks scheduled for later this month, which are aimed at trying to get the new unit open, if Mr McSweeney was not allowed back to work. He described the HSE’s behaviour as “appalling”.

The HSE wrote to Mr McSweeney on Friday, reiterating that he was placed off duty “in light of your refusal to engage with management locally”.

Ned Kelly, area director of nursing for Cork Mental Health Services, defended the action, saying “the decision was fair and reasonable having regard to your refusal to engage”.

Mr Kelly also wrote that being put off duty “does not amount to a suspension or any other disciplinary sanction”.

He said management remained committed to resolving issues with Mr McSweeney and it would be arranging to re-engage with him and his trade union, Siptu, following his return.

Mr McSweeney said he was reluctant to engage with the HSE because his trust in the service had “been very badly damaged as a result of their behaviour”. He said his wish was that the HSE would focus on resolving the issues keeping the new unit closed rather than focusing on him.

“Their first priority should be for people using the service,” he said.

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