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.