Psychiatric Nurses in Waterford have voted in favour of industrial action over staff shortages and overcrowding.
89% members of the Psychiatric Nurses Association voted to start industrial action from Tuesday.
They want management to address ongoing overcrowding, nursing shortages and failure to fill identified vacancies within the Waterford mental health services.
PNA Industrial Relations Officer, Michael Hayes said: "This action to commence in Waterford mental health services is a direct result of continuing instances of overcrowding in the admission unit at the Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Waterford, where lack of facilities and ongoing staff shortages and vacancies within our nursing numbers are compromising both patient care and staff safety".
"Nurses cannot continue to provide services that rely on redeployment of staff, agency staff, overtime and sheer goodwill on an almost continuous basis. They cannot ensure a level of safety for clients and staff where there is consistent and unacceptable overcrowding."
"PNA has repeatedly brought to management’s attention the ongoing overcrowding, nursing shortages, failure to fill identified vacancies and the resulting health and safety ramifications within the Waterford mental health services."
The industrial action to commence on Tuesday 20th February will affect services in Department of Psychiatry, UHW, and residential units at Grangemore, St. Aidens and Ard na Deise.
