Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 14 Oct 1997

Vol. 481 No. 4

Written Answers. - Nursing Services.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

126 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the problems being caused in the management of wards by the excessive use of agency nurses with a high rate of turnover which disrupts the continuity of care; the extent to which agency nurses are currently being used; whether his Department applies any ceilings on the use of agency nurses within individual wards; and the proposals, if any, he has to deal with this problem. [16059/97]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

My Department has responsibility for the formulation and development of health policy. The management of health services, including the direct employment of staff and the utilisation of agency staff, is a matter for the individual health agencies.

The use of agency nurses is, to a significant degree, related to the unanticipated absence of nursing staff which, of itself, impacts on the continuity of care. My Department does not apply ceilings on the use of agency nurses nor are there any plans to do so, since such a measure could adversely affect the flexibility that health agencies have to arrange appropriate nursing cover, as and when required. I would also make the point that agency nurses, must be suitably qualified and registered with An Bord Altranais, which is the statutory regulatory body for the nursing profession.