Vol. 522 No. 3
10 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of nurses registered and employed in the health services in each of the years 1997, 1998 and 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18537/00]
An Bord Altranais has the statutory responsibility to maintain the register of nurses. The following information is derived from the board's annual reports, the most recent of which relates to 1998:
|
Year |
Active Register |
Inactive Register |
Total Register |
|
*1997 |
47,157 |
8,998 |
56,155 |
|
*1998 |
48,759 |
10,431 |
59,010 |
|
*1999 |
50,940 |
10,389 |
61,329 |
*Unpublished information received from An Bord Altranais
It is clear that there has been an increase in the number of nurses available for employment over the period 1997 to 1999.
The Department's annual personnel census is the principal source of data on employment levels among nurses. The total number of nursing staff, whole time equivalent, in employment at 31 December 1997 was 27,426. The corresponding figure for 1998, the most recent census available, was 26,695. It should be noted that nursing students participating in the registration-diploma programmes were excluded from the 1998 census as they are supernumerary to service requirements.
The provisional figure for 1999 based on initial returns from agencies is 27,338. I stress that this figure is provisional and has not yet been audited by the Department. It should also be noted that the figures quoted exclude 550 practice nurses working with GPs in their surgeries.
The Deputy may also be interested to know that agreement has been reached between the relevant Departments on a procedure for fast-tracking immigration clearances and work permits for non-EU nurses. Data maintained by An Bord Altranais indicates that in recent years there has been a net inflow of nurses to Ireland. Inflow figures for 1999 show a dramatic increase to 3,181 in the number of nurses seeking to register here. Employers have stepped up their recruitment from abroad, with significant success in Scandinavia and the Philippines, for example, in addition to ongoing recruitment within Ireland.
The information I received from the Minister does not quite get to the point I wanted clarified. Information we received from the Department some time ago indicated that two out of every five nurses registered were not employed as nurses. Will the Minister clarify the current position because this information was received some time ago? If that proportion has not fundamentally changed, what will he do about it? Great play has been made by the Minister and his predecessor about additional training places being provided and more people coming into nursing. Surely he would accept that there is not a huge amount of value if nurses who qualify are moving into other areas. Many attractive positions are being offered by pharmaceutical companies and so on.
There were 47,157 nurses on the active register in 1997, 48,759 in 1998 and 50,940 – this is unpublished information but it has come via An Bord Altranais – in 1999. There were 8,998 nurses on the inactive register in 1997, 10,431 in 1998 and 10,389 in 1999. As the Deputy suggested, we have increased the number of places significantly. The diploma programme also had an impact on service levels. I am not so sure about how valuable the active register is in terms of quantifying the numbers. I have met people who are retired from nursing for ten years and who are in other positions but who are still on this register. That said, it is clear there is a significant number of nurses who could be recruited to the service if changes take place. We are weighing that up in terms of the impact changes would have on the existing workforce. We are talking about job sharing and so on.
When was the last survey of nursing vacancies conducted? Does the Minister know how many nursing posts are currently vacant? When will the next such survey be undertaken?
In relation to non-EU nationals, a figure of 500 Filipino nurses being sought was mentioned in the newspapers. Has the Department an estimate of the likely numbers which will be attracted here in 2000?
Is the Minister aware that nurses have cited Dublin's traffic and housing problems as a real disincentive to the profession? Aside from that, what concrete steps is the Minister taking to make the profession of nursing more attractive?
I will make available to Deputies about five or six pages outlining the action which has been and will be taken.
We have seen it already.
It covers all the areas to which the three Deputies have referred. Nurses from the Philippines have to do a six week training course and the figure is not as high as 500. The Mater Hospital in particular has been successful in recruiting up to 70 nurses who are in the country. Other hospitals, particularly in Dublin, have been successful in recruiting both at home and abroad. I do not have details of the most recent survey available.
Dublin is still the major issue, although there were other issues around the country. We are in dialogue with the health boards to ensure they take a proactive recruitment appraoch to this issue. I have also been in touch with FÁS in regard to its international work to make sure there is an ongoing campaign to entice people back to this country. Dublin is an issue in terms of the matters which affect the capital. Because of the development of specialties and the provision of extra resources for a range of nursing specialties in the regions, many nurses are taking up those opportunities and are moving from the capital.
Will the Minister provide nurses with cheap housing?
It is a bigger issue.
