Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

64. To ask the Minister for Health the various contributory factors currently making it difficult to recruit or retain staff at all levels in the health service, including consultants, doctors and nursing staff; if similar difficulties are being experienced in the private health sector; if any studies have been done to identify the most salient factors affecting the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4640/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. While there are significant challenges at present in recruiting consultants, nurses and midwives and doctors, due primarily to worldwide shortages and international competition, progress has been made in recent years in growing the consultant and NCHD workforce in particular.

Since the establishment of the HSE, the number of consultants has increased from 1,905 in December 2004 to 2,861 Whole Time Equivalents at the end of 2016. There are some specialties in which there are international shortages and which have been traditionally difficult to fill. 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 December 2006 to December 2016 the number increased from 4,679 to 6,060, an increase of 1,381 Whole Time Equivalents.

There are particular difficulties recruiting nurses and midwives at present, notwithstanding an increase of 1,650 Whole Time Equivalents between December 2013 and December 2016. The HSE is pursuing a range of initiatives to support recruitment and retention.