Olivia Mitchell
Question:294 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of nursing and midwife vacancies at each hospital from 1 January 2003 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9975/03]
Written Answers - Nursing Staff.
The information which the Deputy is seeking is not readily available in my Department. However, the Health Service Employers Agency (HSEA) undertakes a quarterly survey of nursing resources. The most recent survey was published in March 2003 and provides national data and analysis on the nursing workforce on 31 December, 2002. A copy of this survey will be forwarded directly to the Deputy.
The main findings of the survey are as follows. There were 1,642 extra nurses employed in the health service in the year ending 31 December 2002 – a 4.54% increase in the nursing workforce; 1,660 nurses were recruited from abroad in the year ending 31 December 2002; in addition, 346 nurses work every day in the hospitals as agency nurses; health boards have increased their nurse staffing by 787 in the year, voluntary hospitals have recruited 803 additional nurses and the learning disability sector has boosted its staffing by 52 in the year; the vacancy rate now stands at 2.8%.
While all sectors reported that recruitment was well ahead of resignations-retirement, employers reported that 1,021 vacancies existed at 31 December 2002. However, the combination of utilising agency nurses and overtime working provides the equivalent of around 1,141 full-time nurses to the service to compensate for shortages while employers continue the recruitment process to fill vacancies.