Vol. 457 No. 7
107 Mrs. O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if he will give a full report on the current position regarding the nursing staff crisis in the Midlands acute hospitals; and the proposals, if any, he has to alleviate this crisis. [16150/95]
Limerick East): The issue of the deployment of staff, within ceiling and budget, is a matter for health board management. The Midland Health Board received approval for the recruitment of 63 additional staff in 1995. The 63 additional posts were related to specific prioritised service developments in the board's area.
The board does not accept that the present nurse staffing difficulties represent a crisis. Additional nursing staff have already been employed in the acute hospitals this year. However, it accepts that there is a need to examine staffing levels in the light of an increase in activity in some areas of the acute hospitals.
