Nurses at St Luke's psychiatric hospital in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, have returned to work for the time being under the condition that a senior member of staff has no direct contact with them, ireland.comhas learned.
About 170 hospital staff took industrial action earlier this week to protest at what they claim is the former South Eastern Health Board's (SEHB) failure to properly investigate allegations of "bullying and inappropriate management practices" against a senior staff member that date back to 2002, Psychiatric Nurses' Association (PNA) general secretary, Mr Des Kavanagh, said.
Talks between staff and the employer at the Labour Relations Committee have adjourned until next Thursday, but Mr Kavanagh said there is a "serious lack of confidence" that the issue will be resolved.
"The bruising on our side is deep," he said.
Following negotiations at the LRC in 2003, a document was produced at a conciliation conference in which the PNA claims the SEHB agreed the problem should be dealt with by facilitation, mediation and investigation, but according to Mr Kavanagh, this document was never backed up with action.
He has indicated that the PNA will not compromise its stance that the senior staff member be investigated.
A source close to the dispute broadly outlined some allegations made against the senior member of staff. The individual, ireland.comhas learned, allegedly ran inappropriate investigations to follow up complaints made about staff and then made unreasonable conclusions in light of available facts.
In addition, the individual referred to staff in disparaging terms and used inappropriate interview techniques, according to the source.
St Luke's Hospital is a psychiatric unit with 168 beds. In addition to providing acute and long-stay care, it provides respite care, outpatient and addiction counselling services.