asked the Minister for Health whether he will investigate the possibilities of improving the opportunities of promotion for nurses by enlarging the number of senior posts or by other means; and whether he will take the necessary steps so as to increase promotion opportunities for nurses.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Promotion Opportunities for Nurses.
5.
I presume that the question has reference only to local authority services.
I accept that an adequate number of promotion outlets is a factor of importance in the maintenance of an efficient and contented nursing service but the Deputy must appreciate the limitations imposed upon me, apart altogether from the fact that, due to historical causes, some promotion outlets are not available to lay nurses.
The creation of senior nursing posts is normally a matter in the first instance for health authorities and a Minister for Health, in the examination of any proposals for the creation of such posts, must satisfy himself that they are necessary to ensure the proper and satisfactory operation of the particular service concerned. In dealing with such proposals, however, I have never taken the narrow view that money should be saved by refusal to agree to the creation of a new senior post or to the upgrading of an existing post where I was reasonably satisfied that by reason of the change the service available to the public would be improved. Further, I have from time to time whenever it appeared to me that circumstances warranted it, suggested such changes for the consideration of health authorities for adoption by them if they saw fit. In fact, in recent years, the number of senior posts available to lay nurses in the local service has been substantially increased.
It is, however, quite a different matter deliberately to embark on a policy of creating senior posts merely in order to make promotion outlets, as seems to be suggested in the question. This I am not prepared to do.