Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 May 2024
27. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an overview of what teaching roles, in terms of nurse and doctor training, the hospitals in the University Hospital Limerick Group currently have; if he will consider a broadened role in this regard for Ennis General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19780/24]
View answerMedical training is a priority for any health service. The University of Limerick Hospitals Group (ULHG) is an academic partner of the University of Limerick. University Hospital Limerick (UHL) is a teaching hospital. It plays a vital role in training medical staff.
There are 27.1 Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) Clinical Skill Facilitators across ULHG. These Facilitators support the learning and development of nurses and midwives. These posts are in UHL, Ennis, Nenagh and Croom hospitals.
There are also 12.27 WTE Clinical Placement Coordinators across these hospitals. This is in line with requirements of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland. Their roles mainly relate to undergraduate nursing education.
In relation to doctors, consultants across the HSE are obliged to undertake teaching roles. This includes education, training and supervision, as part of their standard contractual commitment.
From July 2024, a clinical educator will take up post at UHL. Their purpose will be to develop teaching for trainees and assist with research.
There is one consultant trainer in place at Ennis Hospital. Two Basic Specialist Trainers rotate through Ennis Hospital every three months. Consultant-led teaching sessions also take place every week in the Hospital.
The deployment of teaching roles is a function of the University and the HSE. This includes deployment across the Hospital group as appropriate.
