DUBLIN, Ireland: A new report says Ireland will need over 2,000 more public health and community nurses by 2040.
The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) predicts a significant rise in demand for staff in primary and community healthcare by the end of the next decade, compared with 2022.
The research, funded by the HSE, shows the biggest increase in staff will be in services for older people living in the community. These include audiologists, occupational therapists, podiatrists, and public health nurses. The number of workers in these roles is expected to grow by about two percent to 3.2 percent each year until 2040.
The highest demand for more staff is expected in the eastern parts of Ireland.
Another study found that extra workers will also be needed to reduce current waiting lists. By 2040, Ireland may need 300 to 383 more occupational therapists and 242 to 315 more physiotherapists. It will also need about 117 to 208 more speech and language therapists, along with around 2,075 to 2,231 public health and community nurses.
Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said the country is working to build a healthcare system that is capable of meeting future needs. She said that increasing staff, improving facilities, and boosting productivity are important for addressing Ireland's growing and aging population.
