Seán Haughey
Question:311 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Health and Children the measures he is taking to deal with the shortage of medical and nursing staff generally in hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16684/01]
Vol. 537 No. 5
311 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Health and Children the measures he is taking to deal with the shortage of medical and nursing staff generally in hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16684/01]
The Health Service Employers Agency undertook a survey of nursing vacancies at 31 January 2001. A copy of this survey will be forwarded directly to the Deputy.
The number of nursing vacancies reported was 1,315. When account is taken of the service of agency nurses of 423 per day and overtime working equivalent to 592 nurses per day, the net vacancy situation pertaining at 31 January 2001 stands at 300. The gross number of vacancies reported for the Eastern Regional Health Authority region, excluding the learning disability sector, was 1,148.79.
The survey shows that a total of 4,226 nurses were recruited in the year ending 31 January 2001 and that a total of 2,954 resigned or retired in the same period. Accordingly, the recruitment of nurses continues to run strongly ahead of the numbers leaving with a net increase of 1,272 nurses in the system. The number of nursing vacancies existing nationally on 30 September 2000 had fallen by 5% by 31 January 2001.
A major new recruitment and retention initiative, costing in excess of £5 million, was launched by me on 29 November 2000 to address the current 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. Under the scheme, individual nurses and midwives may apply to work between eight and 39 hours per week on a permanent part-time basis.