Psychiatric nurses at University College Hospital Galway refused to go to work in the acute psychiatric unit at the hospital on Wednesday morning because of concerns over staff safety and patient care.
They claim there have been 36 assaults on staff in the unit since January and that there isn’t enough staff to provide one to one special nursing care for a number of patients with highly challenging behaviour.
Psychiatric Nurses Association national secretary Noel Giblin said staff had been left 'with no choice' but to take the unprecedented step of refusing to work in the unit as the situation had reached 'crisis point'.
‘Despite the level of assaults since January there has been a constant staff shortage on the unit. Staff do not feel safe on this unit,” he said.
He called on the HSE to put in place a level of staffing that ensured nurses were safe and patients cared for in a safe and professional manner.