Sick kids will not have enough nurses to treat them in the new National Children’s Hospital.
Union Siptu said a proposed staffing plan unveiled today will see 400 fewer nurses than required.
It is just the latest controversy to hit the beleaguered project that threatened Health Minister Simon Harris’ job and the survival of the Government.
Its initial cost was set at €500million but now it’s feared that could be closer to €2billion.
Protesters gather outside home of Health Minister Simon Harris
Explaining the staffing shortfall, Siptu’s Paul Bell said: “The proposed methodology used to determine the nursing workforce has not been subject to robust examination and external expert scrutiny.
“The recommended formula for the nurse to healthcare assistant ratio is proposed at 90:10.
“If the report is accepted, when the hospital opens there will be an immediate shortfall
of just under 400 nursing posts due to this ratio alone. That is unacceptable.
“We have also based our concerns by noting the findings of the Framework for Safe Nurse Staffing and Skill Mix in General and Specialist Medical and Surgical Care Settings.
“Launched last year by Mr Harris, it recommended a safe staffing skill-mix of 80:20 for adult surgical and medical wards. The ratio of 90:10 between nurses and healthcare assistants is at variance with a model of 70:30 in the UK.
“The Government and HSE must explain this and provide evidence.”
The National Children’s Hospital Group disputed the union’s claims.
A spokesman said: “It is inaccurate to state there will be an immediate shortfall of almost 400 nursing posts.
“The recommendation on nurse to healthcare assistant ratio for paediatric services is different than the ratio for adult services.
“Further examination of the 90:10 nurse to healthcare assistant ratio is recommended by the Implementation Steering Group that includes all relevant staff representative bodies.”
