The Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) has lifted its industrial action in counties Mayo, Galway and Roscommon following the resolution of issues relating to the recruitment of all new graduate psychiatric nurses in these counties.
The PNA commenced targeted industrial action last month in response to what it described as the refusal by the HSE to recruit all new graduate psychiatric nurses.
The action was in the form of a work-to-rule by nurses in the areas affected.
The union said that the recruitment of new graduate nurses is at the core of addressing chronic understaffing throughout the mental health services which is impacting daily on the delivery of services.
"Every one of this year's 300 nurse graduates are needed at a time when our mental health services are struggling to cope with 700 vacancies that are being maintained through a reliance on agency staff and overtime," PNA General Secretary Peter Hughes said.
"PNA remains in talks with the HSE, under the auspices of the WRC, with regard to the large number of vacancies within our mental health services," Mr Hughes added.
