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Health Services Staff Recruitment

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 May 2018

Tuesday, 29 May 2018

Ceisteanna (116)

John Brassil

Ceist:

116. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the strategies the HSE south west group has in place to deal with the chronic staffing shortages across key disciplines, that is, consultants, doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals at University Hospital Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23448/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Government is firmly committed to supporting the recruitment and retention of the right mix of workers across the health service. Notwithstanding recruitment and retention challenges, the number of consultants has increased by 110 in the 12 months to end March 2018 and by 462 in the past five years. Similarly, funding was provided in 2017 for the Nursing Recruitment and Retention Agreement workforce plan which committed the HSE to recruiting 1,224 additional nurses and midwives.  There has been a significant growth in the appointment of nurses and midwives with 942 WTE of the 1,224 posts filled (including student nurses) or 69% (847 WTE) excluding student nurses. The HSE remain committed to the Agreement and efforts will continue to fill the remaining posts.

The National Strategic Framework for Health and Social Care Workforce Planning aims to support the recruitment and retention of the right mix of workers across the health and social care system to meet planned and projected service need.  Early actions to implement the Framework are currently taking place.

In relation to the specific query raised regarding staffing levels at UHK, the HSE has advised that the South/South West Hospital Group (S/SWHG) is working with University Hospital Kerry (UHK)to address staffing shortages at the hospital via local, national and international campaigns.  

For example, the S/SWHG and UHK are working with the Consultant Appointments Advisory Committee (CAAC) and the Public Appointments Service (PAS) for the approval, advertisement and recruitment of all new and replacement consultant posts. The S/SWHG has approval to fill Training Lead positions across the S/SWHG at consultant level and this will support efforts to recruit in specialities which to date have failed to attract candidates.

An International Recruitment Agency appointed under the HSE National Framework has been used for nursing and midwifery recruitment in UHK. Furthermore, UHK is an approved site for training of nursing students and the HSE has confirmed that the hospital will be offering all its graduates permanent contracts following successful completion of the nursing degree programme.

For all other staff groups, the S/SWHG continues to run campaigns through the recruitment body of the HSE’s Health Business Services group.  It regularly updates information supporting these campaigns to reflect additional opportunities unique to working in UHK, including opportunities for training and further career development.  

The S/SWHG acknowledges the recruitment challenges in UHK but wishes to assure the Deputy that it will continue to actively recruit suitably qualified staff to ensure that staffing levels are safe and to ensure patient centred care. 

Question No. 117 answered with Question No. 64.
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