Almost 10% of nurses are from overseas

Nearly 10 per cent of nurses working in Ireland are from overseas, according to a report drawn up by the HSE.

A report on employment in the health services, prepared by management for the board of the organisation over the summer, maintains that there were 1,154 vacancies for nurses in the public health service at the end of last year.

The report said nursing was very mobile with migration both inwards and outwards.

It maintained that an estimated 9.5 per cent of nurses, working in both in the public and private sectors, were non-nationals.

"Many Irish nurses chose to go abroad for some time after graduation but the anecdotal evidence is that many return, having gained valuable experience in health services overseas.

"Bord Altranais figures show that 689 nurses verified their qualifications to work abroad in 2005.

"This is much lower than the figures of 1,500-1,800 sometimes quoted in the media.

"However, it is still a significant figure," the HSE report stated.

In its report, the HSE also pointed to staff shortages either currently being experienced in some sectors or which are expected to emerge in the year ahead.

The report said there were 24 orthoptists who specialised in the assessment and treatment of muscular disorders of the eye and anomalies of vision.

It said there was no training course for orthoptists in the State and that Ireland relied on an inflow of UK or Australian graduates predominantly.

"There are currently five vacancies in the system, which represents quite a significant deficit for such a small profession," it stated.

The report said there were 919 diagnostic radiographers employed in the public service and maintained that, while training places had doubled from 20 to 40 in 2003, the number of graduates could be insufficient in the future.

"The projected supply to 2015 based on this intake will not meet projected growth due to population growth.

"And based on previous growth rates, domestic supply will not meet additional requirements for the profession arising from future developments.

"Any development of out-of-hours services may also have an impact on manpower demand," the report stated.

It also forecast that there could be a shortage of radiation therapists in the years ahead.

"There are currently 160 radiation therapists employed in the public health system. Student intake is 25 per annum.

"Planned development of radiation oncology services may result in the current level of training places being insufficient to meet the projected demand.

"It is anticipated, however, that if the places are increased incrementally to 50, this should address the shortfall," the report stated.

The report also said there was a small number of vacancies for physiotherapy posts - around 3 per cent - which were mainly at senior grade in specialist areas.

It said there were an estimated 2,639 pharmacists currently practising in Ireland.

It was unclear whether the current 170 training places would be sufficient.

"Assuming demand grows in line with the population, an oversupply is forecast by 2015.

"Estimating demand based on historical growth rates, it is forecast that there will be a small undersupply by 2015," the report stated.