Sinn Féin spokesperson on Mental Health, Mark Ward TD, has called on the Minister for Health to fund mental health staff to appropriate levels, supporting the calls made by the Psychiatric Nursing Association (PNA).

Psychiatric Nursing Association members have begun targeted industrial action today in Galway, Mayo and Roscommon over staff shortages and its effect on mental health services.

Teachta Ward said:

“Today the Psychiatric Nurses Association has begun targeted industrial action in Galway, Mayo and Roscommon, which will be the start of industrial action over staff shortages and its effect on mental health services.

“This is following a vote for industrial action by members in June.

“The PNA has said that the issue of the recruitment of up to 300 new graduate nurses is at the core of addressing the chronic understaffing throughout the mental health services which is impacting daily on the delivery of services.

“While PNA has secured nurse graduate positions in some areas of the state, the issue has not been resolved in Mayo, Galway or Roscommon.

“The PNA has said that many of our services, including the likes of CAMHS, are reliant on overtime or agency staff to operate. They have described this situation as unsustainable.

“They voted for industrial action in June because they say that mental health services are at a critical point and that services across the country could be at risk of closure.

“Highly trained graduates into our mental health services will be lost to the private sector and abroad.

“At a time when our mental health services are struggling to cope, with 700 vacancies and services being maintained through a reliance on agency staff and overtime, it is astonishing that the HSE can contemplate allowing this to happen.

“This should have been a wake-up call for Simon Harris and Stephen Donnelly. Staff are stretched and worn out. As no progress has been made since June, the PNA members have decided to move forward with industrial action. This is a failure by this government.

“The people accessing or trying to access mental health services are being affected. They and their families are at further risk as long as staffing levels remain unsafe.

“The HSE recruitment embargo gave uncertainty for staff, but now that that has been lifted, there are reports that many of the vacant positions have now been removed. This is having an impact on the delivery of interventions for people in need.

“PNA members did not take this decision lightly and have the overall care of their patients at the forefront.

“We need action now, for the service users in need but also for the staff that are delivering those services. Mental health needs to be funded appropriately and safe staffing levels need to be a priority.”