Talks aimed at resolving the ongoing dispute between psychiatric nurses and the Health Service Executive (HSE) are to take place at the Labour Relations Court tomorrow.
Earlier this week, the Psychiatric Nurses' Association (PNA) and Siptu, which represent over 8,000 psychiatric nurses began industrial action over a HSE compensation scheme for psychiatric nurses injured at work.
The nurses are refusing to do overtime, accompany patients to mental health tribunals or attend non-essential meetings.
The dispute has led to the closure of the Lakeview Acute Mental Health Unit at Naas General Hospital and to the closure of psychiatric beds at St Vincent's, Tallaght. Community hostels in west Cork and Dublin have also been affected as staff have been moved back to the hospital sector.
PNA general secretary Des Kavanagh told ireland.comthat a meeting with the HSE was scheduled at the Labour Relations Court at 12pm tomorrow. He added that meetings were also being held at the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum this afternoon aimed at trying to maintain services there.
Minister for Health and Children Mary Harney has welcomed the LRC's decision to invite unions adn health service employers to attend exploratory talks tomorrow lunchtime.
Ms Harney expressed her "deep concern" at the adverse impact of the dispute on the care of psychiatric patients and appealed to unions to suspend their industrial action while the talks process gets underway in order to minimise hardship to patients.
Meanwhile, Labour Party's spokesperson on Equality, Kathleen Lynch today warned that people with an intellectual disability were being adversely affected by the action.
"People with an intellectual disability who are resident in psychiatric hospitals are among the most vulnerable in society, and they are being dealt with in a shameful manner," said Ms Lynch.
Elsewhere, Ihe Irish Nurses Organisation (INO), which is holding its annual delegate conference in Co Cavan this week, has voted unanimously to support the industrial action being taken by the PNA and SIPTU.
