Seanad
‹ Order of Business (Resumed) Nursing workforce deployment
Summary
Senator Barrett asks whether Ireland’s large nursing workforce is being correctly deployed, given reported shortages in operating theatres.
There are reports today of a shortage of nurses in operating theatres. This country has a serious shortage compared to the United Kingdom. In contrast, the Irish complement of numbers is one of the highest in the OECD. We had 36,000 nurses employed in 2011. We had 34,000 in 2005 and 25,000 in 1992. Will the Leader ask the Minister for Health if the nursing labour force is correctly deployed, in terms of patient care?