This year’s Annual Delegate Conference held in Carlow in April, the homeland of Des Kavanagh, marked the end of an era as Des gave his valedictory address on his retirement as General Secretary of the PNA.

Des has shown unbelievable commitment and dedication to the PNA from his early days as a student nurse in Portrane until his retirement. Des was an activist for over 40 years and served as General Secretary for 25 years. Throughout his 25 years he had numerous achievements, founder member of Horatio, his leadership of the 24/7 Alliance to name but a few. I want to take this opportunity to wish Des and Marie many happy and healthy years of retirement and thank them both for their loyalty and commitment to the PNA.

I am privileged to take over the role of General Secretary and conscious of the “big shoes” to be filled. However, I can assure you that there will be no lack of commitment, dedication and determination from myself, the full-time staff and officer board to build on the legacy of Des and others to ensure that the PNA continues to grow from strength to strength.

The Summer of 2016 saw our successful industrial action in relation to recruitment and retention and I am pleased to say as we draw to the end of this year - the agreement has been substantially implemented.

• The second 50% of the community allowance is sanctioned and the funding has been transferred to the relevant CHO areas, which by now should be paid in all CHO Areas.
• To my knowledge all temporary nurses have been made permanent.
• Expressions of interest have gone out in some areas for the 28 ANP posts and the remainder are due to go out in the next couple of weeks.  
• The 24/7 sub group have finalised their report the key elements are:

1. Development of a 24/7 crisis resolution and home treatment team model
2. 4 pilot sites to be established, 2 urban, 2 rural and then evaluated after one year in operation. The timelines for the pilot projects could not be agreed between the parties. The union’s position is that the projects should commence in 2017. The HSE staff representatives would not commit to a timeframe. Both positions are outlined in the report to the implementation group.

If there are any areas of the agreement not implemented in your area, please contact Head Office.

Although our campaign addressed some of the issues in relation to recruitment and retention we are still experiencing major problems in recruiting and retaining nurses in both mental health and intellectual disability services. At the Pay Talks last May/ June we were insistent that recruitment and retention of nurses is significantly addressed in the proposal. Since our NEC at the end of June we have met with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform DPER in relation to the recruitment and retention element of the proposal and have been given further clarification.

Nursing grades are among the first grades being examined by the Public Service Pay Commission PSPC, which under the Public Service Stability Agreement PSA will examine issues of recruitment and retention throughout the public service. PNA have submitted a comprehensive and evidence based submission to the PSPC, following their request to the trade unions. Highlights of the PNA submission will be circulated early in the New Year illustrating key factors which affect recruitment and retention of nurses. The Commission will now begin the process of examining all evidence presented. PNA have requested the opportunity to support / clarify the evidence in its submission by way of presentation if required.

I would like to extend congratulations to Ms Catherine Cocoman, Kildare Mental Health Services and Mr Liam Hamill St. Ita’s, I.D. Services on their election to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland in the Category 4 Mental Health Representative post and Category 2 post, Intellectual Disability Representative respectively.

Peter Hughes 

General Secretary

Aisling Culhane Research & Development Advisor for the PNA comments on appreciating the guidance of Des over the past ten years, his strategic insight, whilst referencing some of the major highlights of the career of a man who could be described as strong minded, principled, independent, committed with absolute integrity of character.

The early part of 2017 provided a wonderful opportunity to coax Des into revisiting his nursing career and with characteristic modesty he reviewed some milestones on his epic journey with the PNA and Horatio, whilst also providing a fresh and objective appraisal of the economic, financial, industrial relations and professional events that have shaped modern psychiatric / mental health nursing.

Internationally the Irish are considered skilful and proficient Storytellers.

Those of you who know Des will recognise this is indeed a gift amongst others he has mastered well.

Des chooses stories that make it easy for his audience no matter who to connect with him on a personal and emotional level. I’ve witnessed this with our Irish members Board meetings in the PNA and Horatio, the labour court, government, and ministerial level. Des brings people with him.

His narratives are designed to help understand the issues, Des’s storytelling is the ultimate tool of persuasion.

For this organisation he has been a consistent and loyal presence, the rational and informed voice behind many of the most momentous episodes in PNA history.

This portrait endeavours to tell Des’s story a man has made an indelible impression on so many both past and present.

Having qualified as a Psychiatric Nurse in 1974 in St. Ita’s Hospital, Portrane, Co, Dublin  Des Kavanagh commenced Post Graduate Studies in the Faculty of Nursing, Royal College of Surgeons and over the following 9 years accumulated 8 Post Graduate Diplomas and completed a Primary Fellowship before being awarded a Fellowship in 1985.

Among the Postgraduate Diploma he accumulated were :

Community Health

Counselling

Psychology

Psychiatry

Anatomy

Des has always said that his studies in the Faculty contributed to a reservoir of knowledge into which he regularly delved when dealing with challenges in the workplace and in life in general.

Des had been involved in the Psychiatric Nurses Association from the beginning of his career in nursing first as a Student Representative

He came to national prominence in 1986 as a Staff Representative when he led a campaign as Chairman of the Action Committee opposed to the then Governments announcement to close St. Dympna’s Hospital. His mantra was. ‘We will not let you close us now but give us the facilities in the Community and we will close the hospital for you’.

Over the last 25 years Des has been at the forefront of many campaigns on behalf of the Nursing Profession and has regularly featured in the print media and on Radio and TV news programmes. He has sat on several State Boards and Commissions including the Nursing Regulatory Board.

In 2006 he was elected President of the European Organisation for Psychiatric Nursing, HORATIO and was re-elected annually until 2014 when he retired in preparation for his planned retirement from his work with the PNA .

Des Kavanagh says he will look back with great satisfaction on his contribution to the development of the Nursing Profession, including:

• The transition of nurse education from Certificate level to Honours Degree Level.
• The very significant enhancement of the pay and conditions for nurses over the last 25 years.
• The development of Clinical Career Pathways and the recent agreement which will see 1% of Mental Health Nursing Posts operating at Advanced Practitioner level.
• The Schemes now in place for the financial protection of Nurses injured by assault at work.
• Des lists many achievements on his record but his favourite achievement was when in the early 1990s he brought an end to the practice whereby thousands of nurses, predominantly married women, were confined to temporary contracts for up to 40 years without access to increments or pensions. Following the Labour Courts findings in the case taken by Des thousands of women had to be appointed to permanent posts in the public service with access to large pay increases and pensions.
• Des is quick to point out that many of his achievements were on behalf of an organisation with vision and colleagues who were equally committed to improving the lot of the nurse and indeed the services for those for who we care.
• He believes his greatest contribution to the PNA was in giving leadership to fantastic staff and volunteers who have continued to demand better services for those who experience mental distress and better conditions of employment for nurses.
• In 2004 with a number of likeminded Mental Health Nurses from Malta and Holland he joined in the process of building Horatio, the organisation for Mental Health nurses across Europe. He has been delighted to see the organisation develop and flourish and has been pleased to witness the development of its role in advising the various organs of the EU on mental health matters and on Nursing matters.

Des remains a loyal friend to the PNA, never one to take things easy, he is enjoying a busy yet fulfilling retirement. We must also acknowledge Marie and the Kavanagh family who by extension have provided Des and this organisation consistent, enthusiastic, unwavering dedication for many years. The PNA are forever grateful for your help, support, and commitment.

Photos from this years Annual Delegate Conference can be found on

https://pna.ie/index.php/member-information/pna-photo-gallery

May 10th - 12th 2018

Call for those wishing to attend

Closing date Monday January 15^th, 2018 4pm

Dear Colleagues,

This year the Union will continue its sponsorship of Members to attend the European Congress organised by Horatio and Faroese Psychiatric Nurses, having done so previously for events in Lisbon, Malta, Istanbul, Stockholm, Prague etc.

The PNA in supporting this Congress are pleased to confirm that a number of bursaries will be offered by lottery to Presenters of Papers, Officer Board Members, Branch Officers and Members.

This year’s bursaries will be worth approximately €1200.This Bursary is based on the combined cost of the Congress Fees, Flights and Accommodation.

This is the call for those WISHING TO ATTEND

Closing date for applications is Monday 15th January 2017 4pm

Notice of the Congress and the Bursaries is now also on the Website. I am now to advise that the Draw for the Bursaries will take place in the middle of January

It is essential that members who are interested in attending the Congress submit their names, before the closing date of Monday 15th January to Paula Gannon by E MAIL ONLY to pgannon@pna.ie stating you wish to attend.

http://www.horatio-web.eu/index.php/events/horatio-congress-2018-the-faroe-islands