Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I sincerely thank the Labour Party for bringing forward this important motion. Starting with vacancy numbers, a response to a parliamentary question stated there were 240.42 whole-time equivalent nursing vacancies in UHL. As we heard at a recent meeting of the health committee, SIPTU was able to provide information to me that indicated there were more than 70 healthcare assistant vacancies and approximately 70 support staff vacancies. This has led to a significant number of vacancies across all grades. In fact, it was said it is not safe. I acknowledge that the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, has disputed the former figure, which I did find strange since it originated from his Department. I am also submitting a request for clarification. If I can be so bold, I would like to go back to the Minister's suggestion, made at that recent meeting of the committee, of having a private meeting with me regarding questions I put forward at the end of my speaking time.

The pay and numbers strategy decommissions critical posts as it uses December 2023 as a starting point, when there were already significant gaps. The embargo has become a ceiling and recruitment restrictions remain. It has explained to me that hands are tied. Positions known to be becoming vacant cannot be advertised until they are vacant, and this is causing significant delays of up to six months. We experienced this in the Ennis urology service during the summer. The stress and strain being put on patients is completely unnecessary.

On 10 October, the health committee heard that there are enough nursing hours for safe staffing, but staff had to be redeployed and surge areas were not staffed with permanent staff. I must mention that surge areas are required due to the lack of other hospitals for patients to present at. At least this is the case in UHL. The hospital serves 430,000 people, which is more than double the average and points to the desperate need for another emergency department in the mid-west. We need to reopen Ennis hospital. Critically, management of surge areas was pointed to as a significant contributing factor to the death of Aoife Johnson. It is deeply distressing that years later we are still having issues managing surge capacity. Without permanent staff, we cannot guarantee that a tragedy of this type will not be repeated.

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