asked the Minister for Health if he will authorise and encourage health boards to approve of applications for direct exchanges of nursing staff, especially where such exchanges are for family and social reasons and where no additional finance is involved.
Written Answers. - Exchanges of Nursing Staff.
89.
The recruitment of nursing staff is a matter for the chief executive officer of each health board. Vacancies for nursing staff are advertised and filled by open competition. This gives an opportunity to nurses to compete for vacancies in areas where they wish to obtain employment. Changes in this recruitment system may be negotiated through the agreed industrial relations procedures. In accordance with these procedures, ongoing discussions on inter hospital transfers/ exchanges are taking place between the health boards and the unions representing nurses. I will communicate the outcome to the Deputy in due course.