A PRINCIPAL nursing officer is to be appointed to the Department of Health and a nursing unit established, the Minister for Health has announced.
The announcement, at the Irish Nurses' Organisation annual conference in Athlone, was welcomed by the INO president, Ms Ann Cody, who said the union had been seeking such an appointment for more than 10 years.
"Historically, there has been a chief medical officer in the Department but no chief nursing officer, even though nursing is a profession in its own right. For the planning of the health services you need a nurse in the Department to coordinate the planning and development of the nursing services," said Ms Cody.
Mr Noonan said he wanted to see an integrated and strengthened nursing function within the Department "which will provide added impetus to this important stage in the development of nursing in this country.
"Arrangements have now been made to bring together in one dedicated unit within the Department all matters relating to nursing and to develop, for the first time within the unit, a principal nursing officer post."
The Minister has appointed Ms Peta Taaffe, the present director of nursing services at St James's Hospital in Dublin. She will do the job for 18 months to help develop the post, which will then be advertised. Mr Noonan also said a shortlist has been drawn up for the new chief medical officer in the Department of Health.
The INO was critical of the Minister's decision not to publish the Public Health Nurses Review and the Review of Mental Handicap Nursing, which are complete, but to send them to the Commission on Nursing.
"We will not let it rest," said Ms Cody. "These reports were established for the development of these services. There is a tremendous shortage of public health nurses and continued lipservice has been paid to the development of community care but not the proper financial backup."
Mr Noonan denied that giving the reports to the Commission was a delaying tactic and said he would consider publication of both reports.
Questioned about the investigation into the legal strategy adopted by the State in the case of the late Mrs Brigid McCole, Mr Noonan said, if asked, he would "consider" appearing before the Select Committee on Social Affairs.
The Opposition parties intend to press the Minister to appear, claiming it is the only way of getting the facts. Mr Noonan said yesterday be had already explained his role to the Dail.
He accused the Fianna Fail spokesman for health, Mr Brian Cowen, of trying to create a political issue.