Written Answers Nos. 191-196
191. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which adequate numbers of non-consultant hospital doctors are available and adequate to meet requirements throughout the health service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48549/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am committed to improving the working-conditions of non-consultant hospital doctors (NCHDs) and to ensuring that they can have a suitable career pathway within the Irish health system. Intensive work is underway in all hospitals to pursue compliance with the European Working Time Directive on junior doctors’ working-hours. The immediate focus, involving the HSE, hospital management, the IMO and NCHDs, is on eliminating shifts in excess of 24 hours.
In July this year, I set up a working group chaired by Professor Brian MacCraith, President of DCU, to carry out a strategic review of the medical training and career structure of NCHDs. I see this as a modernising initiative which is needed urgently and which will, in future years, support the retention of sufficient numbers of doctors trained in Ireland within the system.
The great majority of NCHD posts are filled at present. However there are a limited number of vacancies, mainly in smaller hospitals and in certain specialties, including Emergency Medicine and General Medicine at Registrar level. Filling these posts represents a challenge given that there are shortages internationally, there is a competitive market and that it can be more difficult to attract doctors to some hospitals than others.
Where sites continue to experience challenges in terms of vacancies, hospital management implement contingency plans. If necessary, hospitals make locum arrangements to ensure continued service delivery. System reform, in particular the implementation of the Report on Hospital Groups and the Framework for the Development of Smaller Hospitals will assist in achievement of a more focused and efficient deployment of NCHD staffing. These changes will build on the significant work that has been done through the HSE National Clinical programmes in recent years.
192. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the total number of public hospital beds currently available; the extent to which this has fluctuated on an annual basis over the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48550/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
193. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which permanent nursing staff remains to be available throughout the public health service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48551/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll staffing arrangements have to be considered in the light of the current budgetary pressures in the health service and the need to reduce the numbers employed throughout the public sector. Staff appointments may be made only where an inescapable service need has been identified and which cannot be addressed by other means, such as the redeployment of staff or reorganisation of services.
Notwithstanding these restrictions, I am satisfied that sufficient nursing capacity can be provided throughout the public health service. The Public Service Stability Agreement 2013- 2016 (The Haddington Road Agreement) provides for health service staff to increase their working hours. The value ascribed to this element of the Agreement is in the region of five million hours annually for the health workforce as a whole. In the case of nurses and midwives, the standard working-week has increased from 37.5 to 39 hours. Given the number of nurses and midwives in the public health service (about one-third of the workforce), these additional working-hours represent significant additional capacity.
The Haddington Road Agreement also provides for the implementation of the Graduate Nurse/Midwife Placement Initiative on an agreed basis with the health unions. Staff are currently being appointed under this scheme. In addition, as part of the 2014 Estimates process, it has been agreed that the HSE will establish a Nurse Bank. This measure will improve the continuity of nurse-provided care and will also reduce reliance on agency staffing.
The Report of the Review of the Undergraduate Nursing and Midwifery Degree Programmes, published in 2012, found that the numbers of nurses and midwives currently being trained are sufficient to meet current demand. The Report also recommended that a five year workforce plan, to be reviewed regularly, should be undertaken by the HSE in co-operation with the Department of Health, taking into account the extent of change planned under the reform agenda and economic considerations referred to above. I can confirm to the Deputy that the HSE has commenced this process.
194. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the degree to which comparisons are being made with other jurisdictions in regard to public hospital staffing levels, all grades, with those in this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48552/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnhancing workforce planning is critical to the successful delivery of the strategic objectives of our public health services.
Under the Strategic Framework for Reform of the Health Service 2012 -2015 my Department is working with the HSE to develop and implement approaches to workforce planning and development that include recruiting and retaining the right mix of staff, training and upskilling the workforce, providing for professional and career development, and creating supportive and healthy workplaces. To inform this process models of practice in other countries, including staffing levels and grades, are being examined.
Ireland is also participating in the EU Joint Action on Workforce Planning, funded under the 2012 Health Programme, which will create a European platform to share good practice and to develop methodologies on forecasting health workforce and skills needs. This three year EU Joint Action will have a positive impact on: developing forecasting methodologies on health workforce needs and effective workforce planning; improving EU wide data on the health workforce; and on the exchange of good practice in planning methodology.
195. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which expenditure has been carried out at public nursing homes throughout the country at the request of the Health Information and Quality Authority in each of the past five years to date; if all such expenditure was carried out for actual health and safety reasons when compared to other jurisdictions; if the subdivision of wards is deemed to be beneficial or health and safety driven; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48553/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
196. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which expenditure has been undertaken at St. Bridget’s nursing home, Crooksling, in each of the past five years to date; the extent of such works that are deemed necessary on health and safety grounds, if subdivision of existing wards is deemed a health and safety issue, if it might be better to upgrade the quality of all accommodation thus eliminating the necessity to close down any of the existing accommodation thereby accommodating a greater number of patients and achieving a much better staff-patient ratio and cost-effectiveness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48554/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
