Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

443. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the proposal to create an additional 900 nursing posts within the first five years of Sláintecare implementation in order to resource and develop a universal child health and well-being service; the timeline he is working towards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6025/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In line with the principles set out in Sláintecare, and the First 5 Whole of Government Strategy for: Babies, Young Children and Their Families 2019- 2028, my Department is tasked with progressing Strategic Action 3A - to develop a dedicated child health workforce model with a population-based approach and focused on areas of high population density and disadvantage, recognising that this will require additional resources. This work was overtaken by other more immediate priorities with the onset of the pandemic.

My Department is now focusing on progressing this matter, including the development of a pilot model of practice for child health and wellbeing workforce. This requires the re-establishment of the relevant working group which will be tasked with, among other things, the scoping out of the most appropriate approach to developing a model, informed by international best practice and outcomes and the implications for the Irish context.

Separately, my Department is identifying an appropriate model for community nursing and midwifery in Ireland and aligning this model with the framework for Safe Nurse Staffing and Skill Mix in Community Care settings. This work will be helpful in developing a dedicated child health workforce model.