Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 20 Feb 2002

Vol. 549 No. 1

Written Answers. - Nursing Qualifications.

John Browne

Question:

71 Mr. Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny) asked the Minister for Health and Children his response to the survey carried out by the Institute of Community Health Nursing showing that 90% of public health nurses oppose the recommendation of the Commission on Nursing that registration as a midwife should no longer be a mandatory requirement for entry into public health nursing. [5850/02]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

I am aware of the survey carried out by the Institute of Community Health Nursing which showed that 89.5% of respondents favoured the retention of the midwifery qualification as a mandatory requirement for entry into public health nursing. However, I am also aware that the response rate for the survey was 35% and that the survey population was larger than the number of public health nurses currently working in the public health services.

My Department's chief nursing officer has written to the institute seeking a copy of the questionnaire and guidelines which were forwarded to public health nurses. The chief nursing officer has also asked for a critique of the research study and findings, or if no such critique is available, permission to have a critique of the study carried out in the Department of Health and Children. A reply is awaited.

I wish to take this opportunity to reiterate the Government's commitment to the full implementation of the recommendations of the Commission on Nursing. The commission recommended that:

In light of the range of services offered by public health nurses and the on-going development of nursing and midwifery services in the community, registration as a midwife should no longer be a mandatory requirement for entry to the higher diploma in public health nursing or registration as a public health nurse. An alternative education programme relating more closely to the core generic maternal and child care service requirements of public health nursing should replace the mandatory midwifery requirement.

The commission went on to recommend that An Bord Altranais "establish a working party composed of PHNs, health service providers and nurse educators to determine the content and duration of a course in maternal and child health as an alternative to the mandatory midwifery qualification." Following its meeting in January 2002, An Bord Altranais established such a working party as recommended by the Commission on Nursing. The working party is scheduled to report by June 2002.