Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 10 Jun 2003

Vol. 568 No. 1

Written Answers. - Nursing Staff.

Enda Kenny

Question:

505 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason sanction has been given for a second course to be held under the aegis of FETAC for upgrading of hospital attendant to that of health care assistant; the moneys included in the 2003 Estimates to cater for this; if persons already trained to the hospital care assistant grade will be employed in that capacity and remunerated accordingly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15312/03]

Enda Kenny

Question:

506 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of persons trained under the national vocational certificate level 2 FETAC course for upgrading from hospital attendant to that of health care assistant from each health board area, which course was completed in 2002; the overall cost of this course; the number of participants so trained from each health board area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15313/03]

Enda Kenny

Question:

507 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason persons trained under the national vocational certificate level 2 for the achievement of health care assistant grade have not been employed in that capacity in any health board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15314/03]

Enda Kenny

Question:

508 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Health and Children if agreement has been reached on the financial remuneration for persons trained from the grade of hospital attendant to the upgraded hospital care assistant position; the extra cost involved on a yearly basis; if following the approval of the design and completion of this course, persons so trained in each health board area will receive the remuneration appropriate to this grade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15315/03]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 505 to 508, inclusive, together

As the Deputy will be aware, the Commission on Nursing recommended that the Department of Health and Children, health service providers and nursing organisations examine opportunities for increased use of care assistants and other non-nursing staff. The title of health care assistant arose out of the report of the Working Group on Effective Utilisation of Professional Skills of Nurses and Midwives that was set up under the recommendation made in paragraph 7.63 of the Commission on Nursing.

The Review Group on Health Service Care Staff, established in January 2001 on foot of a recommendation of the Commission on Nursing, has undertaken a pilot programme for the formal training of health care assistants in conjunction with the Further Education and Training Awards Council.

Under this initiative, 274 staff were trained under the National Council for Vocational Awards, NCVA, level 2 programme. A small number of multi-purpose staff, i.e. attendant/porter/domestic – four in total – employed in a long stay care unit for the elderly undertook the programme in the Western Health Board. Full details by health agency are outlined below. The cost of the pilot programme was €1.1 million.

Health Board	Number of HCAs trained in each Health Board
Eastern Regional Health Authority	125
Midland Health Board	20
Mid-Western Health Board	17
North-Eastern Health Board	35
North-Western Health Board	16
South-Eastern Health Board	10
Southern Health Board	15
Western Health Board	36
Total	274

Question No. 509 answered with Question No. 494.