Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 July 2020
943. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the reason physiotherapists are not allowed to order X-rays in view of the fact that in other parts of Europe and Australia this is not the case, provided a physiotherapist has undergone the appropriate training (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18208/20]
View answer944. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the reason physiotherapists now registered with CORU cannot order X-rays in view of the fact that the lack of registration previously precluded them from ordering X-rays. [18209/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 943 and 944 together.
The European Union (Basic Safety Standards for Protection Against Dangers Arising from Medical Exposure to Ionising Radiation) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 256 of 2018) transposed the Basic Safety Standards Directive (BSSD), the purpose of which is to protect the public, patients, workers and others from all forms of ionising radiation.
The regulations designate those who may refer for radiological tests, those who may carry them out and other functions; nurses, doctors, dentists and radiographers are designated as appropriate. Physiotherapists are not designated in the regulations. Physiotherapists were not designated as referrers under the previous regulations.
It should be noted that not all statutorily regulated professions are designated for the purposes of the BSSD.
In November 2017, my colleague Minister Harris launched Working Together for Health: A National Strategic Framework for Health and Social Care Workforce Planning . Underpinned by a core set of principles, the framework is intended to support the recruitment and retention of the right mix of health workers across the health system to meet planned and projected service need.
