Colleagues our 47^th Annual Delegate Conference was a wonderful occasion in the Slieve Russell Hotel in Cavan. I want to thank the Cavan/Monaghan Mental Health and Intellectual Disability branches for hosting the conference. The volume of motions was very impressive with 66 motions in total. The diversity of motions reflects the many issues which need to be addressed from Pay, Terms and Conditions, Inadequate Provision of Services and the Continuous Development of the Nursing Role.

I also wish to thank our guest speakers Ms Anne Maria O Connor from the Health and Safety Authority and Mr Coleman Noctor, ANP/Psychotherapist in CAMH’s and Assistant Professor in TCD whose comprehensive and stimulating presentations prompted much discussion and indeed queries from our delegates. Both presenters indicated their willingness to return for future PNA events, in fact we are delighted that Colman was the inaugural presenter at the current PNA/ RCSI College suite of programmes in Advanced Mental Health Assessment.

The difficult issue of self-harm and the learning for our 4th year student nurses Ciara Tiernan and Clyde Corentin from the Dundalk Institute of Technology accompanied by CPC Elaine Hoey  was sensitively presented Thursday afternoon. I wish to congratulate our young presenters on the professional and holistic approach they took in their approach and like most of you am encouraged by the enthusiasm our students bring to the profession.

The dedication of our Branch Officials, Officer Board and Full Time Officials must be commended  throughout the year, but especially coming up to Conference, it is through the commitment of our colleagues and the support they receive from their families  that make this union a cohesive, focused member driven organisation, which we can all be proud of.

Finally a quick comment on the social aspect of Conference,once again in true PNA style, both evenings provided fabulous entertainment, opportunities to socialise and catch up with one another, welcome our guests and most importantly enjoy one another’s company which is the trademark of yet another successful PNA Annual Delegate Conference. Looking forward to doing it all again next year !

Best wishes

Peter Hughes General Secretary

The Communications subcommittee is established from within the Officer Board and comprises of Aisling Culhane, Liam Hamill, Gerd Murphy, Noel Giblin and myself Eoin Ward.

In June 2017, a survey was carried out on in order to establish the strengths of the organisations current approach to communications as well as to identify areas for improvement. Thank you to all who to took the time to complete.

As a result of the questionnaire a number of areas have been prioritised by the Communications subcommittee;

1. The use of Facebook is being reviewed in order to provide an informative, engaging and safe source of social media to members.
2. There has been a review of the PNA newsletter including its purpose, its content and its delivery.
3. There is an ongoing review of how to ensure communications is efficient and timely.

As we continue to make progress, your continued support is essential. Any feedback regarding the organisation’s communications would be very much welcomed as would contributions for the PNA newsletter including local IR disputes, clinical advances or recent research. Please contact PNA HQ for more information or your local regional representative.

Mise le Meas, Eoin.

 Conference was attended by over 200 delegates from around the country to discuss and debate over

 60 motions.

 Some of the topics debated included:

• Pay Restoration
•  Parity of pay and working hours
•  Work/Life Balance
•  Staffing levels
•  Protected time for Clinical Supervision
•  Health and Safety of members
•  Fitness to Practice Hearings
•  Supports for Students & Student Nurse Allowances
•  Full Implementation of Vision for Change

Newly elected members to the Officer Board include Sandra Forristal – HSE South East Rep Damien Conlon – HSE Western Rep, Denis Meehan – HSE Mid-West. Sincere thanks and best wishes to Gerd Murphy, Breedge Callaghan, and Kevin O Connor who have completed their tenure on the Board.

Members paid tribute to three very informative and stimulating presentations from : 

Dr. Colman Noctor, R.A.N.P / Psychotherapist in CAMHS & Assistant Prof. in T.C.D

Disconnect and Connect: Maintaining wellbeing in an era technology

Ms Anne Maria O Connor, Senior Policy Inspector, Health and Safety Authority

Occupational Safety and Health in the Healthcare Setting’,

Dundalk Institute of Technology 4th Years Student Presentation

Self Harm - A Student Nurse Research Perspective 

Congratulations to Harry Keegan Treasurer of St Ita's Branch on winning the Prestigious Gantley Award 

You Can View The Chairperson's and General Secretary's Address Here:

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

You Can View The Annual Delegate Conference Photo Library Here:

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

In February Horatio represented by Aisling Culhane General Secretary /Research & Development Advisor PNA attended The Third Annual EU Compass Forum on Mental Health in Luxembourg. The EU-Compass for Action on Mental Health and Wellbeing collects, exchanges and analyses information on policy and stakeholder activities in mental health and monitors the mental health and wellbeing policies and activities of the EU .The European Commission, in cooperation with a Group of Governmental Experts on Mental Health and Well-being, supervises the development and implementation of the EU-Compass.

    Horatio is a key stakeholder in this process and the singular nursing representative voice at the EU forums. A key part of the discussion forums is communicating the case for, and examples of, public ownership and action on mental health and wellbeing through policy and the identification and dissemination of European good practices in mental health. Out of which the EU Compass develops principles and recommendations for action through scientific reports and consensus papers such as “ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE IN EUROPE” and “COMMUNITY-BASED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES”. All of which Horatio contributes to through submissions and discussions always articulating from a psychiatric / mental health nursing perspective. Horatio’s ever-increasing networks and connections to people reinforce the importance of strong linkages with national, regional and international nursing and non-nursing organisations and ensure the presence of a respected psychiatric / mental health nursing profession to improve the quality of the services for those for whom we care.

    This year’s Forum focused on the following themes: Providing community-based mental health care and Mental health in all policies. These two themes were explored through keynote presentations by leading experts, followed by breakout sessions for more in-depth discussions.

   Strides towards furthering the development and implementation of community-based mental health care has been made by Member States and stakeholders. "Community-based mental health care" refer to a balanced care model which focuses on providing a blend of services within local settings. Examples of such services, entail home treatment, provision of crisis care by mobile teams located in the community, availability of acute inpatient services at local level and family’s involvement in the care.  Actions taken include creation of a supportive policy framework for community-based mental health care and revising and aligning financial structures for community-based mental health care. Several actions in Member States involved services development and re-design, as well as actively involving service users in the design, provision, and evaluation of services.  More data from Member States and key stakeholders as well as feedback and examples of good practices were also shared at the Forum.

Over the past year, a number of Member States and key stakeholders made progress on recognising mental health and wellbeing as a cross-sectoral policy issue. Often the determinants of mental health are structural, such as poverty, gender inequality and stigma-based discrimination which may lead to social exclusion. Thus, embedding mental health into labour market, environmental, educational and social welfare policies is important. Information and practices furthering this theme and strategies for other Member States and stakeholders were discussed at the Forum. The Position Paper on Providing Community-Based Mental Health Services can be found in the following link

https://ec.europa.eu/health/sites/health/files/mental_health/docs/2018_compass_positionpaper_en.pdf

More information about EU Mental Health Compass

https://ec.europa.eu/health/mental_health/eu_compass_en

The PNA would like to extend our congratulations to member Steve Lamb on his registration as Advanced Nurse Practitioner. Steve has developed an Advanced Practice role in Perinatal Mental Health for the Waterford MHS. Operational across Waterford City & County, Steve will be providing a prompt and thorough evaluation of the Mental Health needs of women during the perinatal period (from conception to childbirth through to the end of the first post-natal year).

Where the need is identified, Steve as R.A.N.P. Perinatal Mental Health will carry out a comprehensive bio-psycho-social need and risk assessment, provide autonomous advanced health and social care interventions and ensure expedited access to specialist CMHT/Inpatient Mental Health Services. The PNA welcomes the development of Specialist/Advanced Mental Health Nursing roles and will continue to advocate the national development and implementation of ANP roles. 

Thank you to all who supported me during the successful campaign to be elected to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland last year. I commenced my position as elected board member from the practice of Intellectual Disability Nursing on December 6^th, 2017.

The Board itself is comprised of 23 members. There are eight registered nurses and midwives elected by the professions which represent the General, Children's, Psychiatric, Intellectual Disability, Public Health and Midwifery disciplines. These elected nurses represent the areas of nurse training, administration and clinical practice. A further three nurses and midwives are appointed by the Minister of Health. The remainder of the Board is comprised lay members who hold a majority of 12.

During my time on the Board I will be committed to the promotion and development of nursing and in particular the role of the RNID. I will endeavour to ensure that standards of professional practice are achieved and maintained at a high level, whilst protecting the public interest.

PNA policy promotes the recruitment and retention of nurses & midwives to improve the capacity of the nursing workforce in Ireland. As a member of the Board i will advocate that nurses and midwives continue their development through education to maintain professional competency, thus ensuring the highest standards of nursing care for all

Liam Hamill

PNA Continues its Most Successful Spring / Summer Series Of CPD Programmes in partnership with the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery RCSI 

Forthcoming Programmes Include:

• Creating a Quality Learning Environment in Challenging Times Delivered by Ms Catherine Clune Mulvaney Tuesday May 22nd 
• Medication Management and Injection Technique Refresher Day by Mr Ciaran Lanigan  Tuesday May 29th 

Login to Register at https://pna.ie/index.php/rcsi-pna-cpd

Inaugural Class of PNA/  RCSI College Advanced Mental Health Assessment Delivered by Dr Colman Noctor 

. 

As predicted by the beastly forecast, the snow began to stick on Wednesday morning. Best laid plans kicked into action as the South Eastern nurses gathered together in a Waterford hotel. The suspense of what lay ahead obstructing many from the nights sleep they would soon crave. Arising before dawn and setting off before breakfast could be served, the nurses drove to work through deepening powdery white stuff.11.43 paid hours later, no wiser, stranded!

Night shift arrives, the night staff arrive, army style. Only those quick off the mark made the last 4X4 out. With transport stood down in the thickening blizzard, the girls from the D.O.P. battened down the hatches. Curling up in corners, coveting covers, spurning the morn. The boys who made base camp warm in their beds, saving strength for the return journey ,this time on foot. 300 stories and 3 miles later the graveyard shift were relieved. A new day like any other. The Easterly brute would not discontinue however.

This time hoorah. Trucks. Sound and safe, back in that Waterford hotel basking in commradarie.  Rain at dawn. Thawing. Busses revving, excited grins. Curse the untreated carparks, stranded again.

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