Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

379. To ask the Minister for Health the steps being taken to avert imminent industrial action at the department of psychiatry in a hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26634/18]

Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Further to the threat of industrial action by SIPTU staff concerning overcapacity at the Department of Psychiatry (DOP) in St. Luke’s Hospital Kilkenny, local management have been in regular contact with the staff associations. Management were already engaged with the Psychiatric Nurses Association concerning limited action it commenced in December 2017 in relation to capacity issues at the hospital.

In April, SIPTU indicated to management through the Workplace Relations Commission that they were concerned with the level of overcrowding, believing it impacts on patient safety.

Since then, local management have introduced several measures to address the issues raised by the staff associations. These measures include: the provision of additional nursing staff resources when overcapacity arises; daily communication of in-patient activity and weekly “bed management” meetings. Regular delayed discharge meetings are held and measures taken to progress patient discharges. In order to address any potential risks a quality and patient safety committee has been established to deal with any risks highlighted in a positive, solution focussed and timely manner.

A dedicated recruitment campaign for CHO 5 commenced on the 28th May to source additional staff. For the longer term, work has commenced to include the development of two new units in the HSE Capital Plan.

It is hoped that these measures will go some way to address the concerns raised by the unions. While SIPTU have served notice of industrial action to commence on 26th June, local management remain actively engaged with the staff associations with a view to averting the proposed action. I have requested the management of CHO 5 to attend a meeting on Tuesday to up date me on progress on this issue.