Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 22 Jun 1999

Vol. 506 No. 5

Written Answers. - Hospital Services.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

149 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children the action, if any, he proposes to take on the deepening crisis at the National Neurosurgical Department at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, in view of the pain being suffered by elective patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15880/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

Beaumont Hospital is the national centre for neurosurgery in Ireland. The neurosurgical bed complement in the hospital is 90, which represents 15 per cent of the total hospital beds and 2,000 patients are treated on an annual basis. I am conscious that there has been a steady growth in demand for neurosurgical services, and in recognition of the pressures that this has placed on the national neurosurgical unit, my Department approved additional funding in 1999 for the appointment of a sixth neurosurgeon at Beaumont Hospital.

I have had inquiries made of Beaumont Hospital and I have been advised that current activity levels in the neurosurgical theatres are at 1998 levels, and priority is being given to urgent cases by the hospital. Furthermore, I have been advised that at present, all bed capacity is fully utilised, including an additional intensive care unit bed which was commissioned in 1998, on the basis of additional development funding from my Department. However, I understand that due to nursing shortages in theatre, it has been necessary to reduce the number of dedicated theatre sessions available to the neurosurgery department. To compensate for this reduction, the hospital has endeavoured to meet the needs of the department by using alternative theatre capacity in the hospital, subject to staff availability.

This shortage of specialist nursing staff is not confined to Beaumont Hospital. While the recruitment of nurses is primarily a matter for individual employers, the overall issue of the availability of nurses is being kept under review by the Health Service Employers' Agency, HSEA. The HSEA established a task group in 1998 to examine the full nature of the difficulties in recruiting nursing staff and to make recommendations on appropriate action.

Arising from the work of the task group, the HSEA outlined to the nursing unions in November 1998 a number of initiatives to address the shortage, including the following: standardisation of overtime rates; the introduction of a significantly improved regime of allowances in respect of nurses working in specialised areas such as operating theatres and intensive care unit; full incremental credit on permanent appointment for relevant previous nursing experience both at home and abroad.

In addition, the HSEA is committed to the introduction of more flexible working arrangements for nursing staff. At present, the only options for permanent employment are full-time work or job-sharing. The absence of more flexible attendance patterns has been identified as a major obstacle to attracting nurses and midwives with family responsibilities back to work. The HSEA recently circulated a discussion document on a revised scheme of working arrangements to the nursing unions. A meeting between the HSEA and the nursing unions to discuss the proposals contained in the document is expected to take place shortly. This initiative is being undertaken under the programme for partnership.

Finally, my Department has engaged a nurse researcher to specifically study nursing needs for the coming years and to carry out research on the reasons why nurses are leaving their profession. When this research has been completed, my Department will be in a better position to further address the issue of nursing shortages.