Declan Breathnach (Louth, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The fact that four of the five Louth Deputies have requested this Adjournment debate is testament to the ongoing issues associated with the major deficits in the delivery of acute hospital services to the people of the north east. Deputy O'Dowd referred to the work to rule which is about the major deficit of 104 whole-time nursing posts in the hospital. It has one of the highest trolley numbers in the country. This is a hospital that is expected to deliver safe services with a complement of what the IMO has said is three staff to a ward when there should be five staff in those wards. Not alone is such a service putting patients at risk, it is also an additional stress on the overworked existing staff. The fact that 52 of the 104 positions are for permanent vacancies shows this is not just a problem for Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital but applies equally to the many other health centres, units and hospitals throughout the country. Recruitment problems of this magnitude cause problems with patient care. Too many staff are being asked to work in excess of contracted hours which also puts patients at risk. There appears to be a dichotomy in the approach. On the one hand we have an embargo on staff and on the other hand we are talking about recruitment. The Minister for Health needs to take this issue on and give a proper service to the community I represent.

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