Red tape hampers nursing services
We have nurses, who came from Australia, available for work in this country. They began the process with ABA in January 2005 and they are still without nursing registration.
One Australian nurse, who has a nursing degree and many years’ experience has only just been informed that she will need to undergo a six-week adaptation programme, which, until now, ABA had advised her would not be necessary.
The Mercy hospital has recently had to close wards as a direct result of the excessive time taken by ABA to process foreign applications.
Something must be done.
Obviously, additional resources need to be put in place to deal with the increased demand for foreign nurses.
In this age of modern technology and rapid communication, it must be possible to process applications quicker than the six-eight month procedure now in place.
Critical areas are being affected unnecessarily while recruitment is hampered by the slow wheels of bureaucracy. This is unsatisfactory and must be addresses urgently.
Donna Roche
Service Manager
Bon Secours Hospital
Chairperson
Irish Society of Endoscopy Nurses
College Road
Cork
