Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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128. To ask the Minister for Health the degree to which hospital staffing levels in the public sector compare with staffing levels in other jurisdictions throughout Europe, with particular reference to nursing and/or medical staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21185/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The OECD reports that on average across EU countries there were about eight nurses per 1,000 population in 2012. The number of registered nurses per capita was highest in Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. While registrations do not convert directly to numbers employment, it has been estimated that Ireland has 9.22 working nurses per 1,000. Though numbers in employment fell between 2008 and 2013, given the recruitment embargo, numbers employed have increased in the last year and a half and continue to do so.

It is Government policy to move to a consultant delivered service. While the ratio of consultants to patients is lower in Ireland than in other countries, reflecting a historical low base, significant progress has been achieved. There has been a large increase in the number of consultants since the establishment of the HSE, the number having increased by 737 from the end of 2004 to the end of March 2015 (1,905 to 2,642 - Whole Time Equivalents). There are some specialties in which there are international shortages and which have been traditionally difficult to fill. This means that progress in improving the ratios is more difficult. Shortages in specialties such as emergency medicine, anaesthesia and psychiatry are a worldwide phenomenon and not specific to the Irish health services.

The number of NCHDs has also increased significantly in the past decade, reflecting service demands and ongoing efforts to achieve full compliance with the requirements of the European Working Time Directive. From 1 January 2005 to 30 April 2015 the number increased from 4208 to 5,280, and increase of 1,072.

The HSE is actively pursuing the recruitment of additional nurses, consultants and NCHDs at present to fill vacant posts.