asked the Minister for Health if in view of the shortage of trained nurses he will arrange with An Bord Altranais to provide a training programme for State enrolled nurses.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Nurses' Training Programme.
14.
The setting up of a register of State enrolled nurses is a matter primarily for An Bord Altranais who at the beginning of the present year furnished to my Department the report of a special committee set up by it to examine this question. In effect that report said that there did not at that time appear to be a real need for a second grade of nurse. The board intended to keep the situation under review.
The board have recently undertaken the sponsoring of a broadly-based research project into nurse recruitment and shortage and the question of State enrolled nurses will undoubtedly come up for consideration by the board in the course of this project.
The Minister is aware that there is a considerable shortage of nurses and the Dublin Health Authority at the moment are enlisting nurses with these qualifications? Perhaps the Minister will ensure that the voluntary hospitals, many of which are anxious to avail of State enrolled nurses, will be afforded the same opportunities? Perhaps he would arrange to discuss the matter with the Dublin Health Authority and with the voluntary hospitals?
We are awaiting the report of An Bord Altranais. A number of hospitals did recruit persons who are of this grade, but as the Deputy knows they are not entitled to be called general nurses under the rules. This whole matter is being investigated. We have recently given an additional wage to nurses who look after geriatric cases.
We have also arranged for increments for married nurses. The pay of nurses has recently been increased. The Deputy can be assured this matter is under consideration. The shortage of nurses might be described as not existing in every area. It is in isolated, separate hospitals throughout the country and it is not a very great problem.
Surely the Minister must be aware there is a grave shortage of nurses?
Does the Minister not know there is a shortage of nurses to deal with geriatric patients and that State enrolled nurses, if accepted by An Bord Altranais, could do this work?
I am impressing on An Bord Altranais to re-examine this whole matter.