Failure to progress 2018 Patient Safety Bill is failing nurses and health workers assaulted in the course of their work
Failure to progress 2018 Patient Safety Bill is failing nurses and health workers assaulted in the course of their work - The Labour Party
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- 2018 general scheme brought forward by then Minister for Health Simon Harris is gathering dust, while 3757 nurses assaulted in the course of their work over the last twelve months.
- Average of 313 nurses reporting assaults to the HSE per month (excluding Section 39) must warrant immediate response granting additional powers to HIQA to inspect hospitals.
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- INMO survey reflects strain experienced by nurses with 62% of nurses having considered leaving their job is the past month.
- Safe nurse to patient staffing levels must be top priority for Minister Carroll MacNeill.
Labour’s Health Spokesperson Marie Sherlock TD has called on the Minister for Health and Health Service Executive to immediately progress the Patient Safety Licensing Bill following the publication of the INMO Annual Survey.
Deputy Sherlock said:
“The INMO Survey has laid bare the extraordinary strain that many nurses and other health professionals are working under. On average, 313 nurses are reporting assaults every month over the previous twelve months. One in five nurses stated that they have experienced physical violence in the workplace. Over half of nurses have reported that they had experienced aggressive behaviour.
“In 2017, then Minister for Health, Simon Harris, introduced the Patient Safety (Licensing) bill. The general scheme of the Bill was approved by Government in December 2017. However, since then, this bill has been gathering dust, despite having gone through pre-legislative scrutiny. We have still yet to see a fully drafted bill more than six years later, while thousands of nurses are being assaulted in our hospitals every year.
“Increasing patient and staff safety is paramount. This Bill would expand HIQA’s regulatory role over acute hospitals, ensure that there is enforcement of regulatory standards, and introduce for the first time a licensing system for all hospitals. Such a licensing system is crucial to ensuring that patient safety is improved, risk is managed, and that regulations are applied consistently. This is critical for both staff and patient safety.
“Delegates at the INMO Annual Delegates Conference will debate motions on safety at work at their conference from May 7th to 9th, as well as motions on staffing shortages.
“Staffing levels are continuing to place a massive strain on our health service to deliver safe and appropriate care. It is clear from this survey that our nurses and midwives are struggling to bear the pressure of a health service that is not ensuring appropriate levels of staffing. 65% of staff are working additional unpaid hours and shockingly, 62% of staff have considered leaving their job over the last month due to stress.
“The Minister must ensure that in addition to passing the Patient Safety (Licensing) Bill to ensure that HIQA would have the power to enforce recommendations, she must commit to ensuring that there are adequate security procedures in place in our hospitals, ensure that staff feel comfortable and supported in reporting all assaults, and that staff receive aftercare and counselling supports. The Minister must commit to safe nurse-to-patient staffing ratios so that we have an effective staffing strategy which ensures staff and patient safety.”