Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I join the Chairman in welcoming the INMO delegation this morning. I commend Mr. Doran on his presentation and on taking the initiative to commission and publish this report. It is a very valuable aid to the members of the committee in our respective roles here in the Houses of the Oireachtas in addressing the very obvious staffing deficiencies in our hospital network. It confirms from international research the adverse impacts, as Mr. Doran has documented, of understaffing in our hospitals, including increased mortality as outlined in a number of the reports. This impact is firstly and most importantly on the patient. However, we are also very conscious that it has a significant impact no front-line staff - not only nurses but also hospital doctors. We are very conscious that is stretching them to the limit in their workload. It is not an overstatement to say that the overwhelming number of them are coping only through heroic efforts.

The report focuses on international research. Can the INMO delegation give us a picture of the current impact of understaffing in our hospitals? Can they give us some insight into the realities of their members' experiences because of the current inadequate staffing levels? While the contribution is huge, I ask for elaboration. We know of the short-term impact, but if the recruitment embargo is to remain in situ what are the medium to long-term consequences of the current hospital understaffing? Will the recently announced intention of the Minister to relegate newly qualified nurses to some spurious trainee status-----