Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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This is related to the question I asked earlier about the report in The Lancet, the nurse staffing levels at our hospital sites and the reduction of 5,200 in nursing staff since 2010. The Lancet report is very worrying. It covered nine countries, including this State. It demonstrates very clearly, and it has not been disputed in any subsequent publication, that there is a 7% increase in the likelihood of the patient being lost within one month of a procedure and that after a particular point a nurse can no longer function to the optimum level. Has there been any consideration of that report and its findings? Does it not ring alarm bells? We must create employment opportunities for nursing staff within our hospitals.