Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 July 2020
881. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost and breakdown of providing practice nurses to work with 50 general practitioners; and the estimated cost of their training and pay for work for a first and full-year period. [18056/20]
View answerUnder the GMS scheme, GPs can claim a subsidy towards the cost of employing a practice nurse. Payment is made to participating doctors with a panel size of at least 100 patients and payment increases in bands of 100 with a maximum payment applicable at a panel size of 1,200. The subsidy rate applies to staff employed on a full-time basis and varies depending on the nurses experience. In relation to staff not employed on a full-time basis, payment is made on a pro rata basis. There is no provision under the terms of the GMS contract to pay for the training of practice nurses.
Schedule of Current Subsidies Payable in respect of Practice Nurses
1. Nursing subsidy (per year) — 1 year’s experience €30,945.86
2. Nursing subsidy (per year) — 2 years’ experience €32,665.07
3. Nursing subsidy (per year) — 3 years’ experience €34,384.29
4. Nursing subsidy (per year) — 4 or more years’ experience €37,822.72
The HSE does not fund practice nurse posts in full therefore the costings provided below are based on the current level of subsidy payments.
Assuming the GP has a panel of 1,200+ patients, the cost of the subsidy for 50 practice nurses would range between €1.547 million and €1.891 million depending on the experience of the nurse.
