The overoccupancy crisis in the acute mental health units in HSE CHO5 first began over 2 years ago.

 It began with a practice of admitting clients into “leave beds “in Kilkenny and Waterford, then when the acute unit was at its licensed numbers, after hours admissions were admitted to a tv room, day room, or if a service user was in seclusion their bed was utilised overnight.

What started as an occurrence became more common practice, all pleas and efforts by staff working in the Department of Psychiatry fell on deaf ears. The local branches in conjunction with head office organised a protest at lunchtime. This was held successfully in both areas which attracted the attention of the media and local politicians who were outraged to hear of the overoccupancy crisis, and that members of the public who use the mental health services were being admitted to a unit that had no bed for them to sleep in.

An over stretched workforce attempted to provide a therapeutic environment but sometimes in the course of a working day it was a reach too far due to over occupancy, reduced resources and an emphasis by staff to ensure the safety of staff and service users. 

Following several letters to Senior Nurse Management and HSE Management and meetings the branches were left with no alternative but to ballot for industrial action. They feared for the health and safety of all persons sharing the space of the Department of Psychiatry in Kilkenny and Waterford. This industrial action commenced in Kilkenny in late December and in Waterford in January. Similar issues presented in each area. Discussions were ongoing, correspondence going back and forth, but the overoccupancy continued. Sometimes 4 and 5 voluntary service users were admitted overnight. The units were full to capacity, staff were forced to work in a highly stressful environment with the ongoing degrading practice of admitting clients over the licensed numbers.

The assistance of the Workplace Relations Commission was sought by the HSE and PNA attended the process.  We have presented many proposals to assist in dealing with the health and safety ramifications, clinical risk issues, understaffing and out of hours admissions. Whilst our (PNA) engagement has been meaningful, “in some respects”, at the time of writing we have failed to agree on the principle where “no bed no admission” exists.