Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, I thank the Senator for raising this matter and for the opportunity to update the House. Public health nurses play an extremely valuable role within the community healthcare system. It is vital that local communities, such as the community in Drimnagh, have access to public health nurses and the extensive range of services they provide.

The public health nursing service in Dublin south-west is currently dealing with significant staff shortages. These shortages are mainly due to reductions in the availability of staff as a result of retirement, internal movement and staff leave. Despite ongoing efforts, including recruitment campaigns and attendance at both national and international recruitment fairs, the recruitment of public health nurses continues to prove particularly challenging for the Dublin south-west area. The HSE has assured the Minister that it will continue to make every effort to provide the required nursing services to the population despite these recruitment difficulties.

In light of the staffing shortages, the public health nursing service in Dublin south-west has taken the decision to pool resources as a short-term mitigation measure. This will ensure that any impact on service provision is kept to a minimum. The public health nursing services will be consolidated in the Armagh Road centre, with a satellite clinic to be provided in the Curlew Road facility. It is hoped that the provision of this satellite clinic will ensure minimal impact on service users. It is important to note that this change will see no impact on those receiving domiciliary nursing services.

The HSE expects implementation of this process to begin in the week of 3 April, with a communication letter to be issued to service users and relevant stakeholders in advance of that date. The HSE has advised that this measure will be subject to daily monitoring to ensure continuity of care and to manage risk. The HSE has reiterated that, as and when staffing levels increase, nursing staff will return to Curlew Road. The Minister has been informed that occupational therapy services, dietetics and addiction services will all continue to be provided from the Curlew Road Health Centre.In response to the broader challenges of recruitment and retention of public health nurses, the HSE established a community nursing national oversight group last year. The group is tasked with developing proposals and recommendations which will aim to address issues in the recruitment and retention of public health and community-registered nurses. The Department recognises the stress and frustration caused by the shortages of public health nurses. The Department and HSE encourage service users with concerns to contact their local public health nursing service directly.