Psychiatric nurses warn of 'growing crisis' in provision of mental health services

PNA General Secretary, Peter Hughes said it was totally unacceptable that nursing vacancies have been allowed to reduce to such an extent that beds are being closed and vital services are being denied to the communities involved.

Psychiatric nurses are warning of a “growing crisis” in the provision of mental health services in the west Dublin region, saying that a 16-bed psychiatric unit is due to close next Monday.

The Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) said the closure of the Sub-Acute Unit at St James’s Psychiatric Unit will leave just 22 acute admissions beds for the entire catchment area.