Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

541. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to establish a sub-committee within his Department to examine recruitment, retention and remuneration issues in the health service to report back to him before the end of 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37598/18]

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

With regard to remuneration, the report of the Public Service Pay Commission on recruitment and retention issues in certain health sector grades was published on 4 September 2018. This report refers to nursing and midwifery grades, NCHDs and medical consultants. In line with the commitment to meet within four weeks of publication, meetings with relevant trade unions have been arranged for 19 September to discuss issues around implementation.

In November of 2017 I launched ‘Working Together for Health’, A Strategic Framework for Health and Social Care Workforce Planning. The Framework aims to support the recruitment and retention of the right mix of workers across the health and social care system to meet planned and projected service need. The Framework outlines an approach to workforce planning for health and social care workers in all settings, including the HSE, wider public and private health service as well as childcare services, and was developed by a cross-sectoral steering group, chaired by my Department.

Initial actions are underway to implement the Framework.