Nurse staffing and health reform
Joe Higgins challenges the Government’s health reforms and austerity policies, citing research linking higher nurse-patient ratios to deaths after surgery. The Taoiseach says the health reform Bill is due this session and the report can be discussed then.
The Taoiseach mentioned the debate on his plans essentially to hand the health service over to private insurance companies. He did not state exactly when that would begin. Also, he used that issue to deflect from the stark findings of a report showing that the number of patient deaths increases after surgery when nurse-patient ratios rise. Given the facts that four patients to one nurse is the optimum, according to health sources, and that 12 patients to one nurse on night duty in Irish hospitals is common, is the Taoiseach disturbed by the danger to patients that is posed by ongoing cuts-----
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-----by the Government's health and austerity policies? Perhaps he would address this matter under the health reform Bill, which is on the A list of Government legislation.
