AQW 51427/11-16 Written question to the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for his assessment of the (a) number of qualified staff nurses; (b) number of staff nurses on permanent and temporary contracts; (c) number of staff nurses that are bank staff; and (d) capacity of nursing staff to meet the demands of private and statutory care provision.
Asked by Claire Sugden MLA on 25 November 2015
- Answered
- Written
- After due date
- Tabled
- 25 November 2015
- Answer due by
- 10 December 2015
- Answered
- 3 February 201670 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Health
- Priority question
- No
Answer
At 31st September 2015 there were 16,949 (14,724.9 WTE) qualified nurses and midwives employed by the HSC, which is an increase of 7.9% compared with March 2011. Of these, 96.7% were employed on a permanent contract and 3.3% worked on a temporary contract.
The number of nurses on a working bank contract is not centrally available. The use of bank nurses is necessary to ensure that safe and effective services are sustained for patients.
The question of capacity of nursing staff to meet the demands of private and statutory care provision is one for those employers.