Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I note the concerns of the Deputies. It is a short-term measure, while these recruitment challenges exist. There is a commitment to develop a new primary care centre at Curlew Road within CHO 7. By pruning public health nursing resources, the service can provide better continuity of care, while ensuring that those with greatest clinical need continue to be seen in the community. The HSE has assured the Department that this mitigation measure will be under daily review and will help to ensure delivery of a safer service. The population of Drimnagh will continue to be served, with Curlew Road acting as a satellite clinic and once staffing levels increase, nursing staff will return to Curlew Road health centre. While every effort is being made to address the recruitment challenges in the short term, including ongoing campaigns, longer-term recruitment challenges face a range of sectors, including the health sector.

It is expected that the recently established community nursing national oversight group will propose recommendations later this year that aim to address some of the longer-term issues with regard to recruitment and retention of public health nurses and community registered general nurses. The Minister, Deputy Donnelly, wishes to reassure all Deputies that the Department of Health and the HSE will continue to work together to review and monitor staffing and service levels and work to utilise all practical options to fill vacancies, whether they exist in Dublin South-West or elsewhere. I note the concerns the Deputies have raised, especially about transport and the inconvenience it is causing to service users within the health centre. I note the issues with transport raised by Deputy Smith, in particular, but this is a temporary measure while these recruitment challenges exist.

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