Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 February 2014
182. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he has concerns regarding staffing shortages in maternity units across the country; if he is considering lifting the staff embargo in units where staffing is not deemed safe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5916/14]
View answerThe numbers employed across the public service must be reduced in order to meet the fiscal and budgetary targets we are obliged to meet. In order to mitigate the impact on front-line services of the reduction in employment numbers, the priority is to reform how health services are delivered in order to ensure a more productive and cost effective health system. The additional working hours provided for in the Haddington Road Agreement are a pivotal element in this regard.
It is recognised that certain services such as maternity are demand led and may also require specialist staffing. Arrangements are in place in the HSE to allow the recruitment of such staff where it has been established that there is an urgent service requirement, notwithstanding the overall requirement to reduce staff numbers. The number of Staff Midwives in the health services at the end of 2013 was 1,341 (WTEs) - including 20 recently qualified midwives participating in the Graduate Nursing/Midwifery Programme. This figure is noteworthy, as it shows the manner in which the HSE has the capacity to respond to service needs and to focus recruitment in specific areas where increases are required. It represents a significant increase on the number of Staff Midwives employed at the end of 2010 - 1,178.
