Written answers

Tuesday, 21 February 2012

9:00 pm

Photo of Billy KelleherBilly Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 602: To ask the Minister for Health if skills mix is going to be introduced to complement nursing staff in the care of the elderly and in psychiatric services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9161/12]

Photo of James ReillyJames Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The provision of appropriate care by the most appropriate staff, in the most appropriate setting, is central to the effective delivery of health services. The Public Service Agreement and the Strategic Framework for Role Expansion of Nurses and Midwives – Promoting Quality Patient Care (published by my Department last year) specifically recognise the importance of staff skill-mix in this regard. The HSE National Service Plan 2012 commits to advancing revised rostering arrangements, to include the reviewing of skill-mix.

Specifically in relation to care of the elderly, it is clear that on a "business as usual" basis, the HSE would have to close further beds across a range of public nursing homes in 2012. In the absence of reform, this would increase the cost of caring for older persons within the public system, undermine the viability of public nursing homes and reduce the overall number of older persons that can be supported within the budget available for Fair Deal. is not a sustainable way forward and would not meet the needs of older persons, local communities, the taxpayer or those working in the public service.

Instead, a pro-active approach is required to the provision of public nursing homes, which seeks to protect the viability of as many units as possible within the funding and staffing resources available. This is likely to require a combination of actions such as consolidation of services, changes in staffing, skill-mix and work practices. I understand that the skill mix in many nursing homes is now 50/50 in terms of nurses and care assistants. There is, however, scope to further refine the skill-mix, and also to examine issues such as redeployment and rostering. The HSE is already examining issues in this regard and will be working closely with my Department to develop an overall set of proposals for my consideration.

With regard to psychiatric services, a special allocation of €35m for mental health was provided in Budget 2012 in line with the Programme for Government commitments. Funding from this special allocation will be used primarily to strengthen the Community Mental Health Teams in both Adult and Children's mental health services and, in particular, to ensure that all the teams have an appropriate skills- mix from the required disciplines.

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