Some 30 nurses, members of the Psychiatric Nurses' Association, have begun industrial action at Tralee General Hospital. The dispute is over staffing and safety levels at the hospital's psychiatric unit.
The action yesterday began with two-hour stoppages. If progress is not made over the weekend, a full-day stoppage will take place next week, Mr Des Kavanagh, general secretary of the PNA, said.
None of the 50 or so patients has been sent home so far, and the action yesterday was designed to minimise disruption for patients, Mr Kavanagh said.
The PNA members are also hoping for a meeting with SIPTU colleagues over the weekend.
The dispute centres on management's failure to provide proper alerter devices for nurses, as well as the unsuitability of the unit for recently introduced admissions procedures.
Patients from 18 to 80 occupied the 50-bed unit, which was not purpose-built.
Recently, handcuffed patients under garda escort have begun to be admitted into the unit in Tralee. This causes upset and disruption to the patients, who range in age from 18 to 80, because there is no proper reception area for such admissions.
The Southern Health Board has said the strike is unnecessary. Staffing levels had been improved in recent years, it said. As well, quotes for a personal alarm system to be integrated into the hospital's overall alarm system had been obtained.
There were also plans for a six-bed high-observation unit.