Shortage of intensive care nurses, says Harney

The Minister for Health, Tánaiste Mary Harney, has told the Dáil there is a shortage of intensive care nurses.

Mary Harney was responding to questions from Fine Gael leader, Enda Kenny, over why two children were refused surgery at the Crumlin Children's Hospital in Dublin.

The Tánaiste said that, while Ireland had the highest proportion of nurses for the population of all OECD countries, there was a global scarcity of specialised paediatric intensive care personnel.

Ms Harney said the Government was carrying out overseas recruitment drives to attract English-speaking nurses to this country.