Tom Shehan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Is it possible to bring to the House the Minister for Health to debate the HSE's recruitment of nurses from abroad? The HSE is in Britain and further afield trying to entice nurses back to the health service here by offering them inducements. I call for a debate because hundreds of people in this country left the nursing profession for various reasons, such as raising families. They are trying to get back into the nursing profession but finding it almost impossible. I am told they find An Bord Altranais less than co-operative. Much of the issue is with regard to paperwork and bureaucracy. I call for a debate and for the Minister to give a directive. We have qualified people here who have been out of the service for a number of years and wish to come back. Their families are reared. This is where we should target the recruitment. It should also be part of it.

I have the anecdotal case of a paediatric nurse who is needed in Kerry General Hospital. She has been out of the service for number of years and needs retraining and reassessment, which can only be done in Crumlin children's hospital, but that hospital will not do it because she will not work there. It is crazy. I cannot understand why there are such draconian measures whereby the hospital in Crumlin will not give her the reassessment or retraining to work in Kerry General Hospital. Will the Leader invite the Minister for Health to come to the house to debate this? Nurses are needed and they are here in this country and want to get back into the service. We should entice them and give them any help to do so.