Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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537. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the implementation of the Framework for Safe Nurse Staffing and Skill Mix in General and Specialist Medical and Surgical Care Settings in Adult Hospitals in Ireland 2018; when it will be implemented in all hospitals; if there are costs to implementing the plan; the savings which can be realised as a result of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44621/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The principle objective of the Framework for Safe Nurse Staffing and Skill Mix in General and Specialist Medical and Surgical Care Settings in Adult Hospitals in Ireland was to develop an evidence-based methodology to determine the staffing and skill mix range required in our hospitals.

The Framework was developed in the Department and piloted in three sites before I formally launched it in April 2018. Results from the pilot were positive for both patients and staff. Showing evidence of improvements in the quality of care and patient outcomes, and a reduction in length of stay. The Framework also stabilised the workforce, improving staff moral and a leading to a reduction in agency spend.

The national rollout of the Framework for Safe Nurse Staffing and Skill Mix in General and Specialist Medical and Surgical Care Settings is now the responsibility of the HSE and a National Implementation structure has been agreed. Full rollout is dependent on the introduction of a new ICT system which is now in the final stages of procurement.

I have asked the HSE to write to the Deputy directly to provide to provide further information on its implementation plan, together with the costs and benefits of same.