Gay Mitchell
Question:182 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will make a statement on the contents of a letter (details supplied) with regard to the state of the health system. [8567/01]
Written Answers. - Health Services.
The representation to the Deputy would appear to relate to treatment received at a public hospital. If the Deputy could forward more precise details to me in this case, I will be pleased to have the matter examined by the relevant health agency.
On the wider question of nursing recruitment, I am pleased to inform the Deputy that a number of initiatives have been taken at national level and in the greater Dublin area in particular to attract nurses back to work. Indications are that the nurse staffing situation is improving as a result and as the recruitment of nurses from abroad begins to pay dividends. Beaumont Hospital, for example, now has a full complement of nurses – at one stage last year it had 130 nursing vacancies. Over 900 nurses from non-EU countries have been granted work visas or work authorisations since June 2000.
A major new recruitment and retention initiative, costing in excess of £5 million, was launched by me on 29 November 2000 to address the present shortage of nurses and midwives. In particular, a new scheme of flexible working arrangements for nurses and midwives in the public health service came into operation on 1 February. As part of my overall recruitment/retention strategy, I have introduced financial support for nurses and midwives undertaking a wide range of post-registration educational courses, including the payment of fees and enhanced salary to nurses-midwives undertaking specific courses in specialised areas of clinical practice; abolition of fees for "back-to-practice" courses and payment of salary to nurses-midwives undertaking such courses.
I have also substantially increased the number of nursing training places. An additional 300 places were created last year, bringing to 1,500 the number of training places nationally. To increase the number of general nursing training places in Dublin, funding has been provided to St. Michael's Hospital, Dún Laoghaire, to commence the pre-registration nursing diploma programme this autumn with an annual intake of 40 students. A total of 1,540 places will thus be available this year. The recruitment/retention initiatives for qualified nurses are impacting positively on the nursing vacancy situation. In time, the large increase in the number of nursing students being trained will greatly improve the supply of nurses for our health services.