Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not have the figures, but it is certainly the case that assaults on staff occur at other hospitals. It is a particular feature of psychiatric hospitals and care homes and it can also be a feature in emergency departments. It is not particular to the health service; it happens to gardaí, prison officers and teachers also. It is never acceptable for public servants to be assaulted by their clients, but it is a reality of the environment in which dedicated public servants have to work.

In terms of the 24-7 service, I am advised that the service currently has two nurses assigned to the self-harm programme working in the emergency department. One is a qualified clinical nurse specialist, CNS, and the other is working in an acting capacity. One of the nurses works a seven-day fortnight roster, which is a 12-hour shift, and the other staff member works a 5-7 roster, which is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A further appointment of a self-harm nurse at clinical nurse specialist level is being progressed via the national recruitment service, NRS, panel and it will be filled in the near future.

I do not know if it is the case for Beaumont but it would be the norm for a large hospital like that to have a psychiatry doctor on-call at all times but that doctor may not be called until the patient's medical issues are dealt with first.

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