Vol. 408 No. 4
173 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the serious understaffing in St. Joseph's Hospital, Clonmel, County Tipperary; if he will outline his plans, if any, to correct this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
176 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Health when he will provide additional permanent nursing posts at St. Joseph's Hospital, Clonmel, County Tipperary; and if he will make a statment on the matter.
177 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Health when he intends to provide an additional nursing post for the coronary care unit in St. Joseph's Hospital, Clonmel, County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 173, 176 and 177 together.
My Department's personnel policy provides health agencies with flexibility to target staffing resources to areas of particular priority within the context of an overall approved staffing ceiling and annual financial parameters. This policy facilitates the targeting of staffing resources between different centres in accordance with the priorities of the relevant health board.
In the case of St. Joseph's Hospital, Clonmel, I am advised by the South-Eastern Health Board that additional nursing cover has been provided in the hospital.
The Deputy will appreciate that the deployment of nursing staff within any hospital is continuously reviewed by nurse managers in the light of activity levels in particular areas.
