Psychiatric Nurses in Waterford have voted in favour of industrial action, up to and including strike action in a dispute over staff shortages and overcrowding.
The nurses, who are members of the Psychiatric Nurses Association, will begin their action from next Tuesday, 20 February.
The PNA said the action will affect mental health services in the Department of Psychiatry at Waterford University Hospital as well as residential units at Grangemore, St Aidens and Ard na Deise.
The Association’s Industrial Relations Officer, Michael Hayes said: "This action is a direct result of continuing overcrowding in the admission unit at the Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Waterford, where lack of facilities, ongoing staff shortages and vacancies within our nursing numbers are compromising both patient care and staff safety."
He said: "Nurses cannot continue to provide services that rely on redeployment of staff, agency staff, overtime and sheer goodwill on an almost continuous basis. They cannot ensure a level of safety for clients and staff where there is consistent and unacceptable overcrowding."
