Siptu wants independent review of psych unit delay

Siptu has called for the appointment of an independent expert to carry out a review of the clinical concerns that have led to a three-month delay in opening a new €15m psychiatric unit at Cork University Hospital (CUH).

Siptu health division organiser Paul Bell said the review should be conducted “as a matter of extreme urgency to allay concerns that the public may have about the standard of care for vulnerable patients, which will be provided in this unit”.

Mr Bell said the clinical review, carried out by an “agreed” independent expert, could “examine and validate” proposals for the operation of the 50-bed unit, which should have opened last January. The review would be additional to talks due to take place later this month at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) where Siptu, the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA), the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO), which represents consultant psychiatrists, and the HSE are due to meet to try to hammer out an agreement that would allow the standalone unit open.

The unions have expressed concerns about proposed staffing levels; the unit layout where managerial responsibilities would be spread over two floors; and the shelving of plans for a six-bed high-observation unit within the new facility.

Mr Bell said his members were “committed to the delivery of the highest care standards for service users in what is a badly needed new psychiatric care unit”.

“Industrial relations issues related to this new unit will be discussed by all parties, under the auspices of the LRC, at a meeting scheduled for later this month in Dublin,” said Mr Bell. “However, the concerns of some of our members which are of a clinical nature, require a review conducted by an independent expert in the field of psychiatric care.”

Mr Bell said he believed Health Minister Leo Varadkar “should embrace this suggestion in an effort to ensure that this badly needed unit is opened without further delay”.

PNA general secretary Des Kavanagh said he was “reserving my position” when asked if he agreed with the Siptu suggestion, adding that he would give it “careful consideration”.

The attempt to get the unit open has been mired in controversy after the HSE put one psychiatric nurse off duty when he aired his concerns in the media.

Des McSweeney was put off duty with pay after writing in the Irish Examiner and conducting a number of radio interviews in which he was critical of the new unit. The HSE’s action led to the PNA threatening to withdraw from talks and Mr McSweeney has now been cleared for a return to work.

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