Row over staffing of CUH unit closer to resolution

A row over nursing numbers that has delayed by six months the opening a €15 million acute psychiatric unit at Cork University Hospital (CUH) looks close to resolution on foot of an offer of improved staffing.

A set of proposals hammered out between unions representing the nurses and the HSE also includes a guaranteed staffing complement for a six-bed high observation unit within the 50-bed facility.

The HSE’s earlier decision to put on hold plans to open the high obs unit because of inadequate staffing had been a key sticking point in the dispute. And while no opening date has been set, Des Kavanagh, general secretary of the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA), said they were satisfied the required staffing would be in place when it does.