Varadkar signals change to graduate nurse scheme

Minister for Health Leo Varadkar has said he is open to making changes to the graduate nurse scheme to stem rising emigration in the profession.

Mr Varadkar said money wasn’t the only issue and he hoped to come up with creative ways to make the scheme more attractive to young nurses.

Two years ago, former minister James Reilly introduced the graduate intern scheme under which 1,000 extra graduate nursing posts were made available for two years at between 85 per cent and 90 per cent of the full staff nurse rate.

However, amid trenchant opposition from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), the take-up of the new position was very low.

Mr Varadkar said today he was very disappointed that only half the 1,000 posts had been filled.

"Clearly, there are issues there," he said, adding that the matter was currently in discussion at the Labour Relations Commission.

The Government is coming under increasing pressure from the INMO to reverse the graduate nurse cuts following its decision to offer improve pay terms for consultant posts. The Irish Medical Organisation is currently balloting members on this offer, which substantially reverses consultant pay cuts introduced in 2012.

The Minister today announced the appointment of three deputy chief nursing officers, Susan Kent, Anne-Marie Ryan and Philippa Ryan Witheroe, in his department. He said this would ensure that nurses were "at the top table" for the decisions being made in health.

Mr Varadkar said he was satisfied maternity units across the State were safe, but added that a review of midwifery standards was under way. This would take account of changing standards and the fact that the birth rate had started to fall.