Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 1 Jul 1999

Vol. 507 No. 4

Written Answers. - Nursing Staff.

Alan Shatter

Question:

149 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the names and numbers of hospitals which have an infectious diseases nurse; the hospitals which formerly had this nurse but in which this position is currently vacant; and the hospitals which have never had this nurse. [17195/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

The category of nurse referred to by the Deputy is not one of the categories included in the Department's annual personnel census. Consequently, the Department does not have records of the number or location of such nurses. It is a matter for each individual health agency as to how nursing staff are deployed.

The Deputy may be interested to note that the commission on nursing has recommended the establishment of a three step clinical career path in nursing and midwifery, as follows: registered nurse/midwife; clinical nurse or midwife specialist – equivalent to ward sister level; and advanced nurse or midwife practitioner – equivalent to middle nursing and midwifery management level.

Infection control is included as an example of a specialist area in which such a pathway might be established.

Work is in progress on the establishment of the national council for professional development of nursing and midwifery, which is a necessary prerequisite to the introduction of the clinical career pathway.