Public health nurse shortages in Dublin
Deputy Gogarty raised recruitment shortages for public health nurses in several Dublin CHN areas and said his constituency was being underserved. The Taoiseach said balanced staffing should be pursued and asked for the specific details to be forwarded again.
The HSE has rejigged the way it operates regionally and locally, but we still have issues with the recruitment of public health nurses, particularly in the Lucan, Clondalkin, Newcastle, Ballyfermot and Palmerstown CHN areas. I have previously raised issues like the Dublin allowance, pay restoration and other measures, such as building houses specifically for staff. We are told the HSE will not divvy out the limited resources equally. In my constituency, there are people suffering disproportionately when other areas are getting a much better service. What Government approach needs to be taken? Does the Taoiseach agree it is only fair that limited staffing resources for public health nurses should be divided out equally, if one area is suffering badly, as in my constituency of Dublin Mid-West?
Comment on this
First, I think every effort should be made to have balanced and equal provision of staff. I am not aware of the specifics of the area. The Minister stated that she has raised this with the Chief Medical Officer with a view to examining it. If the Deputy can give us the details, we will pursue it.