NURSES THREATEN TO BALLOT OVER ‘IDLE’ FACILITIES

SIPTU TO BALLOT FOR INDUSTRIAL ACTION IF HSE FAIL TO MOVE NURSES

SIPTU will ballot the psychiatric nurses it represents in Kerry for industrial action if the HSE fails to redeploy its members back into the county’s mental health services, the union has warned.

It’s a warning that comes amid protracted negotiations between the HSE, SIPTU and the Psychiatric Nurses’ Association over the opening of the 40-bed Deer Lodge centre in Killarney – a facility built to the highest of standards in mental health care that has been lying idle for the past two years.

Also lying idle for two years is a four-bed ‘intensive care unit’ for mental health patients at University Hospital Kerry (UHK).

Both facilities could finally be opened at a stroke if the HSE would redeploy mental health nurses, SIPTU claims.

But if the health service fails to redeploy members who are currently working with patients with intellectual disabilities in the Cluain Fhionnain facility in Ballydribeen, Killarney, by May 31, the union says it will be left with no choice but to ballot members for industrial action.

Cluain Fhionnain is currently staffed by mental health nurses who should be redeployed back into the mental health service in the county, SIPTU argues.

Meanwhile, its members are also still working with the 30 plus residents of the O’Connor Unit at the rear of St Finan’s Hospital – a unit deemed to no longer be fit for purpose.

“SIPTU has issued a deadline of May 31 by which time we want our members re-deployed. The HSE has already been afforded ample opportunity to complete this process,” branch organiser Donie Doody said.

“It is our plan that the re-deployed nurses be used to staff the two new buildings currently lying idle.

“In the long-term this will save the HSE thousands of euros, provide an enhanced service to the people of Kerry and better facilities to service users accommodated in the new buildings.

“In the event our deadline is not honoured by the HSE, SIPTU has no option but to ballot its members for industrial action,” Mr Doody said.

He added: ‘It is appalling that the facilities we have waited so long for, now built, lie idle and still outside the grasp of those who need them most.’