This morning, industrial action was started by ten members of staff at Galway University Hospital’s acute psychiatric unit.
According to a spokesperson for the Psychiatric Nurses Association staff are said to have balloted and a 90 percent vote in favour of industrial action was reached by members in Galway West Mental Health Services.
This is occurring after a staff member walked off the job last month, returning to work only after the LRC intervened.
Only the basic core duties will be carried out and staff are refusing to carry out any other taks or answer phone calls.
It is feared that this industrial action will spread to units in Roscommon County Hospital.
No talks with the HSE are going to take place until the threat of sanction is lifted against the ten staff starting industrial action.
In a statement from the HSE, it was said that the HSE would: “regret if this industrial action proceeds and has asked the LRC (Labour Relations Commission) to intervene. The HSE is happy to discuss and explore the nurses issues
and have already responded positively regarding staffing levels”.
The staff have noted 36 assaults since January stated the spokesperson.