Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 November 2023
246. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the impact of the HSE recruitment freeze on the Framework for Safe Nurse Staffing and Skill Mix and the 854 additional nursing posts announced in May 2023 to fully implement the framework in all acute hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51576/23]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware he Framework for Safe Staffing is an evidence-based approach to determine safe staffing and skill mix for nursing that is fully supported by Government and being implemented by the HSE. It is determined by patient need and demonstrates impact through the measurement of a range of outcomes.
Since 2018, two safe staffing policy documents have been published, Phase 1 focused on Adult General and Specialist Medical and Surgical Care Settings. Phase 2 focused on Adult Emergency Care Settings.
The Government has invested €31 million from 2020 to 2022 for national implementation of the Framework. In 2023 I allocated additional funding of €25 million to support implementation across all acute hospitals nationally based on the HSE’s implementation plan.
To date this year there is an additional 1398 WTE into the Nursing and midwifery workforce. This is data up to the end of September 2023. Implementation of the Framework continues.
