Gino Kenny: Public Health Nurse Shortage Threatens Early Childhood
Gino Kenny raised concerns about a shortage of public health nurses in early childhood development, calling the situation unacceptable and acute. He said parents have contacted him and other TDs in Dublin Midwest and been told by the HSE they will not have a public health nurse for at least 18 months.
Reports from parents
Parents and other TDs in Dublin Midwest have contacted Gino Kenny about the absence of public health nurses for new mothers. Constituents have been informed by the HSE that they will not receive a public health nurse for at least 18 months.
Scale of the shortage
Gino Kenny highlighted the distribution of public health nurse posts, noting that of the 240 places for public health nurses, 62% are in Dublin. He described the shortfall as an acute problem not confined to the capital.
Causes and local impact
He argued the problem goes beyond vacancies, saying nurses weigh rents and the cost of living when considering positions. This has affected recruitment and access to vital early childhood services for parents.
Follow-up with the Minister for Health
A speaker offered to take the points raised to the Minister for Health and invited those affected to send specifics. The respondent said they would follow up on submitted details to pursue the issue further.
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I want to raise an issue in relation to the shortage of public health nurses in early hood development and these are obviously very vital services for new mothers a number of parents have contacted me and other TDs in Dublin Midwest in relation to no public health nurses whatsoever and they've been told by the HSE that they won't have one for at least 18 months now obviously this is completely unacceptable and this obviously situation is acute not only in Dublin I think there's of the 240 places of public health nurses 62% of them are in Dublin so these are very vital services and parents can't get at them so what is the government doing at this moment in time to address these issues because I think they actually go further than actually the vacancies because what's happening is that nurses are looking at these vacancies and they're looking at rents and they're looking at the cost and you just want to take the positions particular shortages in what particular location I'd follow that up with the Minister for Health because obviously public health nurses in respect of early childhood development is very important and I would talk to the Minister for Health in relation to the points that you've raised but feel free to send me some specifics in relation to it and I'll follow it up
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