SINN Féin spokesperson for Health Councillor Patricia Logue has said that valuing nurses is an important element of retaining and recruiting more nurses to the HSC.She said: “The huge pressures being faced in the nursing workforce at present is simply not sustainable.
“Actions need to be taken to retain the excellent nurses we have here currently and recruit more nurses into the HSC.
“This means continuing the work of Michelle O’Neill who as minister for Health increased the number of pre-registration nurse training places and initiated work on a comprehensive workforce strategy.
“It’s important a workforce strategy is delivered soon to ensure the whole HSC workforce, nursing included, have the capacity to meet the growing health and social care needs of the community.
“It was evident yet again over the holiday period that staff are the HSC’s greatest asset, delivering high standards of care in very challenging circumstances.
“Valuing nurses, and ensuring the HSC is an employer people want to work for, is a fundamental element in retaining and recruiting the number of nurses needed.”
