asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the staffing difficulties arising in fever hospitals by virtue of the closure of the infectious diseases register; and what steps will be taken to meet the situation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Staffing of Fever Hospitals.
9.
I am aware of staffing difficulties which exist in one fever hospital, namely, Cherry Orchard Hospital, Ballyfermot. This hospital, due to a variety of reasons, has been experiencing difficulties in recruiting trained nursing staff for a number of years and these difficulties have been increased in recent times as a result of the decision of An Bord Altranais to discontinue the special fever nursing qualification as from 1972.
The Dublin Health Authority have the position under constant review and certain concessions have been introduced to stimulate recruitment including the grant of credit, up to a maximum of five increments, for previous post-graduate experience in a recognised hospital both to single nurses who accept permanent appointments and to married nurses employed in a temporary capacity. A special allowance is also payable to nurses engaged in the nursing care of children.
On the question of the replacement of students in the training school for fever nursing at Cherry Orchard, the Dublin Health Authority have applied to An Bord Altranais for approval to the establishment of a group training scheme for general nursing based at St. Kevin's Hospital and other health authority institutions including Cherry Orchard Hospital. This application is at present under consideration by An Bord Altranais who hope to give a decision on the matter in the near future.
The Deputy can be assured that the Dublin Health Authority are doing everything in their power to attract suitably qualified nursing staff to Cherry Orchard Hospital.
I do not know whether the Minister heard me say that at a meeting yesterday the matron and the medical superintendent said they will have to close down another ward in Cherry Orchard next week because of a shortage of nurses. An Bord Altranais should be made aware of the seriousness of this situation and try to get them to act responsibly.
From knowing the Dublin Health Authority I should imagine that the chief executive officer of the health authority will be pressing An Bord Altranais to give its approval to making use of St. Kevin's as a training centre.
He is all for it.
I am all for it too and I shall do what I can to see that it is approved.
Is the Minister aware that considerable difficulty is being caused by the fact that health authorities are asking for particulars from married nurses about training and previous service before they agree to pay any increments? Is there any way in which this can be short-circuited? Surely the authorities must be aware of the service of these people before they take them into employment? I believe they are making it extremely difficult to claim for increments.
I have not had a complaint about that. If the Deputy will give a specific complaint I shall examine it. I have been so delighted to be able to recommend the inclusion of these increments that I am afraid it never occurred to me that there would be administrative difficulties. If the Deputy knows of any I hope he will let me have the information.