Members of the Psychiatric Nurses' Association have voted by 80% against acceptance of Labour Relations Commission proposals for the staffing of a new acute psychiatric unit at Cork University Hospital.
PNA General Secretary Des Kavanagh said the fact that nurses had rejected the LRC proposals reflected the depth of concern among nurses about staffing for the new unit.
He said the rejection came despite the offer of incentives that would have made 17 temporary staff permanent and regularised the position of 12 staff in acting higher posts.
Mr Kavanagh said the HSE needed to take on board the genuine concerns of nurses reflected in the ballot result and come back with serious proposals that meet the demand for additional staffing for the unit before it and the High Observation Unit can open.
HSE South Mental Health Services management said they were very disappointed that the proposals agreed and accepted by all unions with the LRC had been rejected.
It said the proposals would have given 16 additional staff - 11 nurses and five healthcare assistants - for the four extra beds in the new €15 million, 50-bed unit.
The management said they will now request a Labour Court hearing to seek a resolution to this issue.
