asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of any forecast which has been made regarding the number of nursing personnel which may be needed to develop the health services along the lines proposed in the Health Bill.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Health Service Nurses.
14.
It would be a matter of considerable difficulty to make a reliable long term forecast of nursing staff needs for the hospital system, the largest employer of nurses, as factors such as the impact of changes in medical procedures, alterations in working conditions and reorganisation of the hospital system itself cannot be foreseen with a sufficient degree of confidence.
In the case of public health nursing the existing programme envisages an increase from the present number of about 530 to 600 nurses on district duties and this would meet anticipated expansion up to 1971. Further expansion beyond that level is not at present contemplated.
Does the Minister intend to take steps to try to get an accurate forecast of the number of nurses necessary under the new Health Act?
As we proceed with the examination of the reorganisation of the hospital system we shall have to take into account the change in the number of nurses required. The number of student nurses taking the preliminary examination has risen on average by 8 per cent per year for general nursing and something less than 20 per cent per year for psychiatric nursing. The number of people coming forward for training as nurses in 1965 was 781 and in 1969 it was 1,069.