Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 April 2019
278. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if he has examined the health sector national staff survey 2016 and National Ambulance Service report January 2017 carried out by a company (details supplied); if so, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that 31% of respondents claimed discrimination in relation to their trade union activity; and the action taken to rectify this situation. [14913/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra279. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that 48% of respondents claimed to have experienced bullying or harassment in the service within the previous two years of the Health Sector National Staff Survey 2016 and National Ambulance Services Report January 2017 being carried out; and the action he has taken to date to rectify the situation. [14914/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra280. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that 68% of respondents claimed to have witnessed bullying or harassment in the service within the previous two years of the Health Sector National Staff Survey 2016 and National Ambulance Services Report January 2017 being carried out; and the action he has taken to date to rectify the situation. [14915/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra281. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health his views on whether there may be a culture of bullying or harassment within the National Ambulance Service. [14916/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra282. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health his views on the fact that only 4% of staff have confidence in senior management within the National Ambulance Service. [14918/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra283. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the action he plans to take in relation to the fact that only 5% of staff agree that communication between senior management and staff is effective in the National Ambulance Service. [14919/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra284. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the actions taken by the National Ambulance Service in relation to the finding in the national staff survey that only 3% of staff agree that senior managers act on staff feedback. [14920/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra285. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the contents of the 2018 survey carried out by a company (details supplied) in relation to the National Ambulance Service has yet to be released to all staff; and if his attention has been further drawn to its content. [14921/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 278 to 285, inclusive, together.
The Deputy has raised a number of issues in relation to Health Sector National Staff Surveys which were carried out in 2016 and 2018. The purpose of these surveys was to measure employee sentiment and engagement within the publicly funded Health Sector.
As with all surveys, they raised a number of both positive and negative results. These results have prompted the National Ambulance Service to take a range of measures to address the areas where improvements could be made.
There are a number of ongoing programmes and initiatives being undertaken and supported by the National Ambulance Service. For example, a number of NAS managers across the country have undertaken Leadership Development Programmes including Continuous Quality Improvement courses.
Staff Health & Wellbeing initiatives and programmes are ongoing in the NAS as part of Healthy Ireland including significant focus on staff health initiatives such as mental wellbeing, physical activity, health checks and improving the workplace environment. The NAS is also developing anti bullying work place initiatives in line with the Positive Workplace Programme and bespoke sessions for the NAS are currently in development.
