Vol. 437 No. 4
166 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Health if, under the existing FÁS scheme, he will arrange with the Minister for Enterprise and Employment that unemployed people who have completed basic nursing courses be employed under FÁS schemes in children's hospital wards rather than the unacceptable development in which parents supervise children in children's hospital wards; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The presence of parents on children's hospital wards is on an entirely voluntary basis and arises from the concern of management in the hospitals in question that those parents who wish to provide company and reassurance for their children during a period of hospitalisation should be facilitated in doing so.
The level and mix of staffing on children's hospital wards is determined by hospital management subject to approval by my Department. The presence of parents on these wards in no way influences decisions regarding the appropriate staffing levels.
