Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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427. To ask the Minister for Health the results of the framework for safe nurse staffing and skill mix, which has been operating on a pilot basis in six hospital wards; if it has had an affect in retaining nurses and reducing agency staff; if so, the figures for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31322/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The pilot results demonstrate the impact and outcomes from implementation of the framework for safe nurse staffing and skill mix. In all wards, that received amended staffing, there was a reduction in the proportion of nursing hours provided by agency staff. The reductions ranged from 4.3% to 19.5%. Intention to leave was also measured during the pilot, which revealed an overall reduction in intention to leave by 6%, demonstrating a positive trend.

The Minister recently announced the extension of the pilot to a further ten wards, therefore further data akin to that outlined above, will be collected across these additional wards.