Labour Court recommends open competition for permanent psychiatric nurse posts

The Labour Court recommended that HSE Mid-Western Area hold an open competition for permanent psychiatric nurse posts in Limerick Mental Health Service and keep temporary posts to a minimum. The recommendation was signed on 8 January 2008. The Psychiatric Nurses Association sought to convert temporary nurses’ posts to permanent status, saying vacancies and temporary staffing had grown while permanent competitions and panels were not maintained. HSE Mid-Western Area said it had filled posts through earlier competitions, issued Contracts of Indefinite Duration where required and was processing candidates for a further competition. The Court said long periods in temporary posts were unsatisfactory and saw merit in the union’s claim. It recommended allowing the 2008 competition to proceed, keeping a current panel in place and allowing any nurses whose status remained unresolved to refer their claims back to the Court.