Seanad debates
Thursday, 7 November 2002
Report of the Inspector of Mental Hospitals, 2001: Statements.
With regard to those persons engaged in the treatment I welcome, with the report, the fact that from November 2001 degrees are available in psychiatric nursing. That is excellent. However, even though I am an academic, degrees are not the only thing. In nursing generally there has been almost too much of a shift towards the academic discipline and not enough recognition of the humane element. We are enormously in the debt of people who have come from other countries to service our health service, both in the psychiatric and the general nursing profession and in particular – perhaps I am being racist in saying this – I cannot help noticing the contribution made by Filipino nurses. Perhaps as part of their culture, they are endlessly patient with people whom somebody like myself, who is on a short fuse much of the time, would probably strangle. It is wonderful that they are able to deal with such situations. We are very much in their debt.
No comments