Overcrowding at Psychiatry Unit of Waterford hospital 'an affront to patients', say nurses

A protest has taken place at University Hospital Waterford highlighting overcrowding at the Acute Psychiatry Unit.

The Psychiatric Nurses Association say levels of overcrowding have reached unprecedented levels.

The organisation believes the under-resourcing of mental health services is having an impact on the delivery of care.

PNA Industrial Relations Officer, Michael Hayes said today’s protest was necessary to highlight the impact it is having on the delivery of care to vulnerable services users.

Mr Hayes said: “Overcrowding on the scale that regularly and routinely occurs at the Acute Unit in UHW is an affront to the rights of patients presenting there and puts intolerable pressure on staff who are struggling to deliver the highest standards of professional nursing care.”

"The serious issues arising at the UHW Unit can be directly linked to under-resourcing, understaffing and the complete absence in the Waterford region of proper multi-disciplinary community teams.

"The absence of this key service puts enormous and unacceptable pressure on the Acute Psychiatry Unit at UHW.”

Mr Hayes said the PNA is demanding that the HSE urgently address the deficit in mental health services in Waterford.

He added: “The situation exposed in UWH last week cannot be allowed to continue or repeated and the under-resourcing and under-staffing of the Waterford mental health services must be addressed as a matter of urgency.”

Main image: The Waterford Branch of the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) protesting at University Hospital Waterford (UHW) today. Pic: Patrick Browne