§ Rev. Martin SmythTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps the Government is taking to encourage nurses to enter the neurosurgical branch of medicine; and what(a) immediate and (b) long term steps the Government are taking to overcome shortages of neurosurgical nurses. [102036]
§ Mr. BrowneThe recruitment of staff is a matter for individual Health and Social Services Trusts taking into account factors such as service needs and available resources. The Royal Group of Hospitals Trust has confirmed that three newly qualified local nurses were recruited in October/November 2002 and they have just completed a three month supervised consolidation period. They are now established members of the neurosurgical nursing team in the neurosurgical ward. A further eight nurses were recruited from overseas in January 2003 and require a period of supervised practice before they can register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. The Trust anticipates that these nurses will join the nursing team on the neurosurgical ward in May/ June 2003. This will facilitate the opening of further beds.
The regional Neurosurgical Unit based in the Royal Group of Hospitals have introduced several initiatives to encourage nurses to work in neurosurgery. These include working closely with Queen's University Belfast to increase the number of student nurses who have the opportunity to experience neurosurgical nursing. In addition the University of Ulster and staff in the Neurosurgical Unit have developed specialist nursing programmes. Nurses are encouraged and supported 194W to attend these courses where they will gain the underpinning knowledge and skills required to work in such a specialised area.