Psychiatric nurses in Roscommon and Galway are set to begin industrial action later this month following an overwhelming vote by members of the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA).
The PNA has formally served notice on HSE West and North West management that industrial action will begin across the region on Tuesday, September 29th.
A total of 98.4 per cent of members who voted supported industrial action, up to and including strike action.
The ballot covered nursing staff across West Galway, Ballinasloe, Roscommon and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), as well as Mental Health Intellectual Disability Services.
The PNA said the dispute centres on a number of outstanding operational and staffing matters and what it describes as a lack of meaningful engagement by local nursing and senior HR management.
The ballot followed an extraordinary general meeting at which members passed a motion of no confidence in the Area Director of Nursing.
PNA Regional Representative Damien Conlon said branches are currently finalising the precise form the industrial action will take.
The union said detailed instructions on the format and scope of the action will be provided to HSE management before September 29th.
The HSE has acknowledged the ballot result and said it remains committed to engaging with the PNA and taking a solution-based approach to issues raised by staff.
The development comes following separate industrial action involving National Ambulance Service personnel earlier this year. That dispute was separate from the current PNA action.
The PNA has said it remains open to engagement with management in an effort to avoid disruption to mental health services in the region.
