Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 November 2014
426. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that adequate staffing levels are being maintained at all levels throughout the public health sector, with particular reference to employment at consultant, medical and nursing levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43255/14]
View answer428. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which he remains satisfied that adequate staffing levels are maintained to meet requirements in public hospitals throughout all disciplines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43257/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 426 and 428 together.
Given the budgetary position it was essential that the numbers employed across the public service be reduced in recent years in order to meet fiscal and budgetary targets. However, given the need to ensure delivery of essential services, arrangements have been in place in the HSE to allow the recruitment of staff where it has been established that there is an urgent service requirement. In addition the moratorium did not extend to consultant recruitment and more recently NCHD recruitment was facilitated given the need to progress EWTD compliance. This policy has resulted in overall medical/dental numbers increasing by 700 since the end of 2007. In the current calendar year the fall in nursing numbers has been reversed with an increase of about 150 nurses in the period to from January to the end of September.
In order to mitigate the impact on frontline services of the overall reduction in employment numbers, the priority was and is reform of how health services are delivered in order to ensure a more productive and cost effective health system. The revised working arrangements provided for in the Haddington Road Agreement are a pivotal element in this regard. In addition, while it is necessary to continue to control public sector employment, the focus in 2015 will be on budgetary control, enabling the health services to appoint staff where more efficient and economical delivery of services can be achieved.
