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	Psychiatric nurses at St Ita&rsquo;s Hospital in Portrane, Co Dublin, will today ballot for possible strike action over staff shortages at an intellectual disabilities centre at the hospital.</p>
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	Members of the Psychiatric Nurses Association say community houses are losing nursing staff who are then replaced by healthcare assistants, which impacts on the clinical care needs of clients.</p>
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	They say due to the lack of staff, there has been a roll back on services and cancellation of mandatory training for people with intellectual disabilities at the centre.</p>
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	PNA branch secretary Michael Guilfoyle said many are not receiving adequate clinical care as a result of a lack of resources.</p>
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	&quot;What&#39;s happening in our service is these community houses are being closed down, [and the people] who are there are being moved back into residential care, because we don&#39;t have the nurses to look after them,&quot; he said.</p>
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	&quot;The people who are living in the community now have less clinical care by professionals, and that&#39;s having a huge impact.&quot;</p>
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	<a href="http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/psychiatric-nurses-ballot-for-strike-action-689627.html">http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/psychiatric-nurses-ballot-for-strike-action-689627.html</a></p>
