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Nursing Education

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 September 2020

Tuesday, 8 September 2020

Questions (976, 979, 1097, 1137, 1201, 1339, 1376)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Question:

976. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health if sufficient financial supports will be put in place for student nurses that are unable to work whilst on placement; if consideration will be given to increasing the financial supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22140/20]

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Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

979. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if financial supports will be put in place for student nurses and midwives that are unable to work whilst on placement (details supplied); if he will consider increasing the financial supports offered to student nurses and midwives and other student healthcare workers in the longer term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22262/20]

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Pat Buckley

Question:

1097. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that third year nurses that will commence their placement in September 2020 have been instructed not to work elsewhere despite not being paid in their nursing role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21363/20]

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Niamh Smyth

Question:

1137. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will address issues (details supplied) regarding a placement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21435/20]

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Pat Buckley

Question:

1201. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that third year nurses that will start their placement in September 2020 have been instructed not to work elsewhere despite getting paid in their nursing role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21571/20]

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Jennifer Whitmore

Question:

1339. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that student midwives are being advised not to be employed in part-time work alongside their placement to prevent cross contamination and do not have income to pay for travel to placements which are often in other counties; his plans to introduce supports for those on placements; if rapid testing will be made available to student midwives; if this same will be provided to them at no extra cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22186/20]

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Niamh Smyth

Question:

1376. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if a series of matters (details supplied) in relation to student nurse placements will be reviewed; if the issues outlined will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22468/20]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 976, 979, 1097, 1137, 1201, 1339 and 1376 together.

At the outset, I would like to acknowledge the outstanding contribution of nursing and midwifery students in supporting the national effort during the initial stages of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is essential that clinical placements can now re-commence for all healthcare students in line with the requirements of their courses and to ensure the continuation of a sustainable workforce into the future.

I would like to advise the Deputy that guidance on the resumption of clinical placements was recently issued by the Chief Clinical Officer of the HSE to all Higher Education Institutes and copied to healthcare providers. This guidance included a revised version ( dated 17 August, 2020) of the HSE's document - Infection Prevention and Control Requirements for Clinical Placements in HSE facilities in the context of COVID-19. This document, among other things, sets out the requirement for Infection Prevention and Control Training for all students. It also underlines that clinical placements are an essential part of students' education and training, ensuring that they will continue to receive the breath of clinical experience that they require.

According to this guidance, students can move from a placement in one setting to a placement in another without an interval of time, provided they complete a COVID-19 Healthcare Worker Relocation Self Risk Assessment prior to commencing in a different location. Similarly, if a student continues part-time work in a healthcare setting during the same period as attending clinical placements, they are required to complete this self-assessment on an ongoing basis so that any need for testing may be identified. The guidance makes it clear that students should not present on clinical placement if they have any symptoms of acute infection. Overall, the guidance facilitates students in completing their education and training and in doing so it does not preclude them from working part time so long as they adhere to the infection prevention and control requirements. In terms of financial supports there is a travel/accommodation allowance which amounts to €50.79 a week to support those students to access the clinical placements they require.

Regarding testing , NPHET is giving ongoing consideration to the testing policy for healthcare workers. There is a range of what are termed rapid tests available in the market with different test types and sensitivity. The HSE established a laboratory taskforce (including key clinical leaders) within the Test and Trace team who make decisions on testing platforms to deploy, primarily guided by NPHET. NPHET has recently asked HIQA to review recent evidence on point of care testing. This review will inform future decision making.

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