PSYCHIATRIC NURSES who began industrial action yesterday have been warned their pay may be cut if the dispute continues.
The threat was issued by the Health Service Executive Employers Agency (HSEEA) as more than 8,000 psychiatric nurses began their action over a HSE compensation scheme for psychiatric nurses injured at work.
The Psychiatric Nurses’ Association (PNA) and Siptu, which represent the nurses, have described the scheme as totally inadequate.
The nurses are refusing to do overtime, accompany patients to mental health tribunals or attend non-essential meetings.
Des Kavanagh, general secretary of the PNA, said the action would be reviewed tomorrow and may be stepped up next week with a withdrawal from all but emergency cover if the dispute is not resolved by then. At present there are no talks scheduled.
Brendan Mulligan, assistant chief executive of the HSEEA, said the HSE is considering its options in relation to implementing a payroll reduction from nurses who are engaged in the industrial action.
He said their action was disappointing as the benefits under the compensation scheme which had been set up reflected industry norms for an insurance-based scheme.
Asked about the dispute yesterday, Minister for Health Mary Harney said: “We went to the market. We got the best scheme that we could. I am mindful of the inadequacies as the PNA see it and they made me aware of those inadequacies last Friday when I met them. But this is an insurance-based market-based scheme and no other scheme was forthcoming when the HSE on behalf of the Government sought tenders or expressions of interest from insurance companies.”