David Cullinane
Question:875. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the percentage of nurses that are advanced nurse practitioners working in the public system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14178/22]
View answerTuesday, 22 March 2022
Questions (875, 876)
David Cullinane
Question:876. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the cost of increasing the number of nurses that are advanced nurse practitioners by 1%; the increased number of nurses becoming an advanced nurse practitioner this would involve; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14179/22]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 875 and 876 together.
As the Deputy may be aware, in November 2021 I requested that the number of nurses and midwives practising at an advanced level (AN/MPs) across the health service be increased from 2% of the workforce to 3% over the two/ three years. A target of 2% had been recommended in A Policy on the Development of Graduate to Advanced Nursing and Midwifery Practice. I have allocated funding of €11.9m to the HSE in 2022 for 164 new AN/MP posts
At the end of January 2022, there were 41,792 WTE in the nursing and midwifery workforce. Increasing the workforce number of AN/MPs by 1% would result in an additional 418 WTE based on current WTE numbers. The cost is based on the salaries for AN/MPs €64,465 (midpoint of the candidate salary scale) with 11% employers PRSI added. There are also education costs of €6,000 per year ( 2 year requirement) for MSc Advanced Practice. A 1% increase therefore would be approximately €33,179,586 rising to approximately €33,966,262 (ongoing cost) for salary. In addition there is a once off education cost associated with the 1% uplift of approximately €5,016,000.
As of 1 March 2022, the number of Advanced Nurse and Midwife Practitioners (AN/MPs) is 733 WTE (1.76% of the workforce), comprising 533 WTE Registered AN/MP posts and 180 WTE candidate AN/MP posts.
Question No. 876 answered with Question No. 875.