Sandra Forristal works as a clinical nurse manager in the Kilkenny Mental Health Services.
She says the mental health area, just like the acute hospital sector, faces staffing problems with some units across the country reporting vacancy levels of 20-30 per cent.
“While there are people coming in to the system, equally there are people moving out of the system or moving up, maybe into higher grades to replace resignations or retirements.
“There is a constant movement and flow within the numbers that are there. At times it can seem like a one-in, one-out system, almost. "
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She says that, due to vacancies, there could be a couple of staff missing per shift but that would be across the service.
“Locally, as you can imagine, there would be an effort to replace a vacancy. However, that always may not work.”
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She maintained that due to sick leave or requests for increased resources needed due to increased risk, it could mean a shift starting with a number of personnel short. This could lead to redeployment or cross-cover arrangements being put in place.
She said that staff shortages presented a day-to-day challenge for personnel on the ground because it put increased pressure on resources that were already stretched.
“So, if five [staff] turn up and you are supposed to have six, then straight away you’re reprioritising the workload that occurs on a daily basis.
“That’s not going to stop admission. That’s not going to stop the level of work that’s already on the unit. If you run an acute admissions unit and you are one to two down on a daily basis, somebody is going to lose out as a result.”
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“The last thing you want it to be is a vulnerable member of the public who is using our services.”
“You have to remember the demand for our services remains high despite the [recruitment] embargo.”
In June, members of the Psychiatric Nurses’ Association (PNA) voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action over staffing shortages and the impact of the recruitment embargo which was in place until last week.
It said that at talks last week health service management had been unable to clarify issues about the Health Service Executive’s new workforce strategy to replace the embargo as this had only been issued. It said the PNA leadership had agreed to defer any industrial action.
“We reconvene in the Workplace Relations Commission on July 25th. The officer board will meet on July 26th to review the outcome of the WRC and also consider commencing industrial action the following week.”
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