asked the Minister for Health whether his Department contemplate any immediate improvement in the educational facilities for nurses in the training hospitals in the Dublin area; and whether the Irish Nurses' Organisation will be consulted.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Educational Facilities for Nurses.
31.
Mr. O'Leary
In May last my Department issued recommendations to all nurse training hospitals aimed at improving the general working conditions of student nurses. These recommendations contained specific suggestions in regard to the educational arrangements. Training schools were asked to increase, where necessary, the ratio of tutorial staff to one for every thirty nurses. They have also been recommended to devise a "block" system of instruction whereby students would spend continuous periods of one or more weeks undergoing tuition without having a switch back and forth between ward duties and lectures. The Irish Nurses Organisation is fully aware of the action taken. I am not clear as to what further improvements the Deputy has in mind.
Will the Minister undertake to secure that representatives of nurses' organisations, other than the Irish Nurses Organisation, will be consulted in these matters?
I will convey the Deputy's views to the Minister for Health.