asked the Minister for Health the rank, nursing experience and qualifications of the official in his Department with special responsibility for nurses; and if he will appoint a number of nursing officers in his Department and in the new hospital regions.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Departmental Nursing Officers.
15.
The official in my Department whose duties are specially concerned with nurses is the nursing officer. Before appointment to the post the officer was required to—1, be a registered nurse; 2, have had wide experience in general nursing; and 3, have had satisfactory experience in a senior nursing post.
Since her appointment in 1949 she has, of course, gained considerable experience in the performance of her duties.
With regard to the second part of the question, the particular needs of my Department are under examination at present. So far as the hospital regions are concerned, the Deputy will appreciate that the staffing requirements including nursing appointments, must be considered in the first instance by the regional hospital boards when they are established.
In order that the interests of nurses, who form a very large proportion of the hospital service, should be properly catered for, would the Minister ensure that each regional hospital board will employ a number of nurses and will he further ensure that the complement of nursing officers in his Department is increased to cater for the needs of nurses so that this country will not find itself in the crisis facing other countries in which there are now insufficient nurses?
We will keep in close touch with An Bord Altranais and the regional hospital boards and it will be their duty to examine the position in regard to nursing in their areas. They will meet those representing the nursing profession and I, having ultimate responsibility, am looking into this question of what additional staff will be required in order to keep abreast of all developments in which nurses will be involved. The Deputy can be assured of that.