Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to comment on the statement that the private sector feasts on the public sector. This applies not only to bed capacity but also to staff. Last week we heard that the majority of staff in the private health sector came from the training schools in public hospitals. That is a phenomenon that needs to be dealt with, given the staff shortages in public hospitals and that the IMNO is stating it is unsafe for nursing staff to work owing to insufficient staff. It has highlighted the need to recruit and retain staff. The significant question is how can public hospitals recruit and retain staff? This is linked with the point Dr. Turner made about the need for 2,800 additional doctors, as well as extra nurses, GPs and so on. If we are to have a public health service to which people will want to buy in, we need to increase capacity. We need consultants, nurses and other staff whom we need to keep in the public sector. We could decide to recruit and train 150 student nurses annually in the next five years, but how would we retain them in the public health sector? That is the question the committee must consider. One suggestion is that the public sector pay for the training of doctors and nurses if they remain in the public sector for 20 to 25 years. Does Dr. Turner have a view on how the public sector could benefit from the expert training medical students receive in Irish colleges and retain them in the public sector?