Vol. 573 No. 3
510 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Health and Children if it is proposed to increase the number of nursing staff in view of the fact that Mallow General Hospital has been designated as a training hospital for student nurses. [25612/03]
In autumn 2002 pre-registration nursing education was transferred from the health sector to the higher education sector and went from a three-year diploma to a four-year degree. The new undergraduate degree programme is provided in partnership between higher education institutes and health agencies. In the case of the Southern Health Board, the partnership is with University College Cork and the Institute of Technology Tralee. The pre-registration nursing degree requires clinical placements as an integral part of the programme. In the case of the Cork area, the clinical placement of the students is arranged by University College Cork in hospitals and other health care centres within the Southern Health Board, the voluntary hospitals and other services in the region. While it has never had a school of nursing, Mallow General Hospital is approved by An Bord Altranais as a placement site for nursing students. It has been providing such placements since 2000.
To facilitate the placement and training of nursing students generally, my Department has put in place a range of supports including nurse practice development co-ordinators, clinical placement co-ordinators, allocations officers and project managers. These posts have been allocated to each of the health-higher education partnerships, and it is a matter for these agencies to determine the optimal deployment of such staff. In addition, a position of clinical development co-ordinator was approved specifically for Mallow General Hospital in 2000. Clinical development co-ordinators have lead responsibility for supporting the nursing students in the clinical areas as well as developing nursing practice in their respective hospitals.
I am satisfied that the level of support provided to Mallow General Hospital to facilitate the placement of pre-registration nursing students in its clinical areas is satisfactory.
