Cowley claims cut-backs impacting on patient care

Cowley claims cut-backs impacting on patient care


Anton McNulty

FORMER Mayo TD, Dr Jerry Cowley claims that a HSE report highlights the safety risks for patients in the west area following the recruitment ban on nurses.
The HSE study surveyed all Directors of Nursing in the HSE West area and found that nine per cent of all full-time nursing jobs were vacant at the end of 2009.
Dr Cowley, the Labour General Election candidate for Mayo added that in Mayo, the survey showed that the total nursing vacancies in mental health amounts to 16 per cent, and the total vacancies in public health in amounts to 14 per cent, with a five per cent vacancy in elderly services 
Dr Cowley claimed that the main finding of the report is that there is a direct impact on patient care arising from the ban on recruiting or replacing nurses operating in the HSE West area.