asked the Minister for Health if in view of the growing shortage of nurses in some Irish hospitals he will consider recognising service in England and elsewhere as if this service were given in Ireland.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Nursing Service.
45.
I assume that the Deputy's question relates to nursing salary scales. The standard practice is that annual increments on these scales are granted by Health Authorities to members of their permanent nursing staffs in respect of satisfactory service with them. A nurse taking up a permanent appointment in the service of an Irish Health Authority for the first time would normally enter the appropriate salary scale at the minimum.
I am not satisfied at present that a need exists for health authorities generally to consider changing the present practice.
Does the Minister know that this is regarded as the most serious reason why nurses cannot be got back from England, particularly in the Dublin Health Authority area? They have to start at the bottom of the scale, even though they have spent quite a number of years in England. There is a serious shortage of nurses particularly from the point of view of the increased number of geriatric patients requiring heavy nursing at the moment.
I will pass on the Deputy's views to the Minister for Health.