Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I have always said this Government will be very much judged on its track record and delivery in health and housing. I think we all know that.

I will focus on one simple measure concerning health. It is in response to an email every Deputy, Senator and Minister received from the Neurological Alliance of Ireland, NAI, campaign for 100 extra nurses in neurology. Patients are waiting too long for diagnosis and treatment and I think the Minister of State and I, and everyone, agrees on that. As an example, consider St. Vincent's University Hospital, which is one of the bigger focuses and the key aspect of this campaign, albeit a national campaign. Based on the catchment area of St. Vincent's, national and international guidelines recommend there should be 22 neurology nurse specialists there but there are only four. Patients deserve better. I believe that and the Minister of State does too.

Investing in more neurology nurses is a cost-efficient way of improving efficiencies and outpatient clinics, reducing waiting times and ensuring patients have access to specialist supports they need to manage their conditions. Patients with access to neurology nurses have reported improved psychological well-being, improved sense of involvement in their care and in their pathways for care, and the preparation for the tests and the investigations that are especially necessary for this specific area of medicine. More neurology nurses will also ensure patients get quicker access to outpatient appointments, thereby reducing waiting lists, and based on their deteriorating condition. I support the NAI's campaign for 100 extra nurses specialising in this area, including 17 extra nurses for St. Vincent's. I ask the Minster of State to do the same.

There was a chart published of nursing numbers per hospital which makes for very interesting reading. I will read it into the record. The recommended number of nurses for Beaumont Hospital is 15 whereas it currently has ten. The recommended number of nurses for Cork University Hospital is 20 whereas it currently has four. The recommended number of nurses for the Mater Hospital is 14 whereas it currently has six. The recommended number of nurses for Sligo University Hospital is seven whereas it currently has three. The recommended number of nurses for St. James's Hospital is 14 whereas it currently has only four. The recommended number of nurses for St. Vincent's Hospital is 22 whereas it currently has only four. The recommended number of nurses for Tallaght Hospital is 20 whereas it currently has only 15.

University Hospital Galway will be of particular interest to the Minister of State. The recommended number of nurses there is 13 but only four are in place. The recommended number of nurses for the University Hospital Limerick is 11 whereas it currently has three. University Hospital Waterford is really disappointing. The recommended number of nurses is six and there are none in place. Those are the facts.I am happy to share that with the Minister of State.

We are all on board. It is a case of how we are going to achieve this and support them. I am only here today to shine a light on this issue on behalf of the Neurological Alliance of Ireland. I would be interested in the Minister of State's feedback.