Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 March 2022
214. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the additional funding allocated to implement the recommendations of the Framework for Safe Staffing and Skill Mix in General and Specialist Medical and Surgical Care settings in Adult Hospitals since 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13420/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra215. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if targets set or recommendations made under the Framework for Safe Staffing and Skill Mix in General and Specialist Medical and Surgical Care settings in Adult Hospitals since 2018 have been met; the number of wards or settings the framework applies to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13421/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra216. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if there are general or specialist medical settings or surgical care settings in which the recommendations of the Framework for Safe Staffing and Skill Mix in General and Specialist Medical and Surgical Care settings in Adult Hospitals have not been met since 2018 to date by setting and by ward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13422/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 214, 215 and 216 together.
The Safe Staffing Framework is an evidence-based approach to determine the safe nurse staffing and skill mix requirement based on patient care needs.
The initial phase, Phase 1, applied to general and specialist medical and surgical care settings in adult hospitals. Following the success of the pilot project, Phase 1 was agreed as national policy and handed over to the HSE for phased implementation across the acute hospital system.
To support national implementation, funding was allocated for a National Lead for Safe Nurse Staffing and Skill Mix, at Director of Nursing level, to establish a governance structure in the HSE to oversee implementation.
The national rollout has been impacted by COVID 19 and the cyberattack. However, the allocation of €15m provided in the period to end 2021, to progress Phase 1 implementation, has delivered 302 additional whole-time equivalents across the Model 4 Hospitals. Budget 2022 has provided for further continuation of Phase 1 implementation with an additional €10 million allocated as part of concluding implementation in the Model 4 hospitals.
Full implementation of the Framework for Safe Staffing and Skill Mix in General and Specialist Medical and Surgical Care settings in Adult Hospitals continues to be a priority for me and my Department and I have allocated €0.2million in the 2022 Letter of Determination, to further develop the unit, within the HSE, responsible for oversight of the national implementation plan for safe nurse staffing and skill mix.
In the 2022 National Service Plan the HSE committed to continuing the implementation of the Framework for Safe Nurse Staffing and Skill Mix in General and Specialist Medical and Surgical Care Settings in Adult Hospitals in Ireland 2018 (Phase 1) and commencing the roll-out of a Framework for Safe Nurse Staffing in emergency care settings (Phase 2).
As part of my Department’s oversight role of HSE, it will be monitoring implementation during 2022. Regarding the Deputy’s request around details for individual settings, I have asked the HSE to reply directly to him.
Separately, the Deputy will also be aware that my Department continues to develop the Framework for other clinical settings. It is expected that policy development for Phase 2 of the Framework, relating to emergency care settings, will be complete very soon, with implementation commencing by the HSE later this year.
