Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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90. To ask the Minister for Health if he will ensure that Cork University Hospital is provided with funding to allow for the employment of the required number of neurology nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7959/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Neurological nurse specialists play an important role in triaging, assessing, and providing ongoing support to neurological patients. This in turn builds capacity within neurological services and allows for more timely access to efficient, equitable and quality care.

The HSE has advised that the National Clinical Programme for Neurology (NCPN) in conjunction with the Neurological Alliance of Ireland (NAI) completed an all-Ireland survey of neurological services in 2020. This survey confirmed that all neurological centres have access to a designated clinical nurse specialist and/or advanced nurse practitioner, recognising the value that skilled and highly trained nursing staff add to neurological services

The HSE has advised that all funded Neurology Nurse Specialist posts in Cork University Hospital (CUH) are filled with the exception of the newly funded Parkinson’s Nurse Specialist post, which is progressing through the recruitment process. Interviews for this post took place in November 2021 however, unfortunately no candidate was successful. This post will be re-advertised in the coming weeks. There are currently four specialist nurses working within the Neurology Services at CUH.

The HSE has also advised that in 2021, the South SouthWest Hospital Group sought, and received approval for, two additional Consultant Neurologist posts and recruitment is progressing to fill these positions.

Since the end of 2019, the health sector has grown by a total of 12,506 WTEs, with the largest area of growth in Nursing and Midwifery, with an additional 3,372 WTE posts.