Mr. Ian Carter:

In terms of the exercise taking place at present with regard to staffing levels, the benchmark staffing levels that are being quoted are slightly more complex than 1:35. This is an exercise the HSE is conducting. The staffing ratios accepted internationally are 1:38 for complex services and 1:45 for district general services, so it is slightly more complicated than the 1:35 given in the information.

Specifically with regard to Portlaoise, a significant recruitment exercise was commenced to supplement current staffing levels there. We mentioned this at the last meeting. That commences next week. There are 27 applicants to be considered to add to the current vacancy factor of ten posts in that institution. I hope those people will be able to be taken on board by the end of April, which would have that facility working at full complement.

With regard to the recommendations after the HIQA report, while they are many and varied the key recommendation for the future was the introduction of the early warning system and the escalation system, which is the systematic way of managing patients should their condition deteriorate. That commenced implementation last year across all hospitals and all maternity units. We are now at the stage of validating that, but it is introduced into the 19 specific maternity units in the country. In parallel with that is the issuing of clinical guidelines relating to the medical care of mothers. Those have been issued.

I will also refer to the question on hospital groups. There are seven hospital groups. The current position is that those groups are established and we are at present looking at moving them forward, appointing chairs and activating the groups. If one links it to the chief executive officer appointment, we now have five of those appointments in place so the groups are advancing.