§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on Early Day Motion 1382 (Neurosurgery in Northern Ireland). [121405]
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Bank nurses1 who have been recruited to work in trusts in Northern Ireland in each year since 1997 (headcount figures given only) Trust 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 South and East Belfast HSS Trust 1 19 0 5 3 9 Armagh and Dungannon HSS Trust 2 5 3 8 7 14 Southern Board HQ 0 0 0 0 0 0 Homefirst Community HSS Trust Unable to provide Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust 1 20 16 7 37 41 Sperrin/Lakeland HSS Trust 26 37 35 22 33 26 Blood Transfusion Service 0 0 1 0 0 0 Altnagelvin Group HSS Trust 26 31 35 45 23 21 Craigavon and Banbridge Community HSS Trust 11 11 7 9 8 8 Craigavon Area Hospital Group HSS Trust 6 8 17 34 17 38 Ulster Community and Hospitals Group HSS Trust 20 10 32 32 29 29 Down Lisburn HSS Trust 33 23 22 32 55 39 Regional Medical Physics Agency Not applicable Foyle Community HSS Trust 27 53 45 24 14 27 Royal Hospitals 12 3 32 31 19 22 Green Park Healthcare HSS Trust 14 12 21 9 14 9 North and West Belfast HSS Trust 4 13 3 7 15 18 Newry and Mourne HSS Trust 0 0 0 0 14 72 Causeway HSS Trust 27 25 22 8 14 14 Mater Infirmorum Hospital HSS Trust 4 0 3 1 2 4 United Hospitals HSS Trust 15 9 15 32 15 14 Total 229 279 309 306 319 405 1 Bank nurses are staff who cover for staffing shortfalls and fluctuating workloads in order to maintain service delivery
§ Angela SmithPressures on the neurosurgery service have arisen mainly as a result of a need for more theatre time, and shortages in experienced nursing staff. This is not a problem unique to Northern Irelandߞthere are similar problems with this service throughout the NHS.
The Royal Group of Hospitals, in liaison with the four boards, has been working hard to improve the situation, both in the short-term, and with regard to the longer-term development of the service.
A task force was established by the trust to lead the effort in addressing the problems faced by the service;
Extra theatre lists have been introduced;
A twin-track approach to enhance the recruitment and retention of nurses has been implemented to restore nursing levels and enable more beds to be opened. This has involved:
the appointment of a 'clinical educator' to enhance trainingopportunities and to support and increase the number of nurses in training; andthe recruitment of additional nurses, allowing the phased opening of beds from June 2003, with all beds re-opening by January 2004.A clinical careers framework for nurses has also been launched to improve opportunities for personal development and career pathways;
In addition, treatment has been provided for some suitable patients in units outside Northern Ireland.
These measures should make a significant contribution to addressing the problems in this service. I have asked my Department, in liaison with the boards and the trust, to keep me apprised of progress.