Vol. 494 No. 6
40 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the increasing use of ward attendants in hospitals due to the shortage of nurses; the standards, if any, which apply to these employees in relation to qualifications or training; the proposals, if any, he has in relation to regulations in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18898/98]
Some tasks regularly undertaken by nurses are inappropriate to that category of staff outside their core nursing duties and can be effectively undertaken by other grades as the best use of available resources. Many of these duties, such as portering and domestic tasks, have been identified as non-nursing duties. The use of nurses for non-professional, non-therapeutic duties does not make optimal use of trained personnel and is not cost-effective.
This issue has been addressed by the Commission on Nursing in its recently published report which states "The interim report of the Commission had identified the concerns of many nurses and midwives at the number of non-nursing or midwifery tasks which they were required to perform. It was suggested that the performance of such tasks did not make the best use of the professional nursing and midwifery workforce. The Commission supports this view and recommends that health service providers, nursing and midwifery management and nursing organisations examine opportunities for the increased use of care assistants and other non-nursing personnel in the performance of non-nursing tasks".
