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Nurses compensation scheme must recognise psychological injury

Date Released: 22 Jan 2008

The compensation scheme for nurses - due to be published shortly - must recognise psychological injury/stress, according to SIPTU National Nursing Official, Louise O’Reilly.

“The dangers facing health workers in the psychiatric services were graphically illustrated by the incident in St. Anne’s day-care centre in Limerick last week,” she said.

Noting that the scheme is to be published over the next few days, Ms O’Reilly said the Union was disappointed that it has taken almost seven years for the Government to come up with its proposals. During this period the Government refused to accept that nurses can suffer psychological trauma as well as physical injuries following an assault at work.

“The Government’s response to our initial claim for compensation in 2001 was to establish a task force to examine the levels of assaults on psychiatric nurses, she said.

“In April 2003, the task force published its report which contained a recommendation for a ‘no-fault’ compensation scheme for nurses who suffered physical and/or psychological injury at work.  Having considered the report, the Government decided not to implement the scheme.

“It wasn’t until January 2007 that the Government announced a scheme of its own for psychiatric nurses injured at work, specifically excluding any provision for psychological trauma or retrospection.

“SIPTU referred the issue to the Labour Court which found in favour of our claim that any compensation scheme for psychiatric nurses injured at work should recognise psychological injury/stress.

“Only as a direct result of mounting pressure from this Union is the scheme - which is now seriously overdue - finally to be implemented,” she concluded.





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