Michael Ring
Ceist:243 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of psychiatric nurses who have been forced to retire following an assault at work. [9731/02]
Written Answers. - Assault Incidents.
Responsibility for the administration of the serious physical assault scheme rests with the individual health boards-ERHA. My Department has therefore asked the chief executive officers to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and reply to him directly.
Michael Ring
Ceist:244 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children his plans in place to provide compensation for psychiatric nurses, similar to the gardaí, who are assaulted in the course of their duties; and the compensation which is available when they are off work for a certain length of time and for hospital expenses due to an assault. [9732/02]
Michael Ring
Ceist:245 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children when he proposes to set up a task force to research the factors which predispose to assaults on nurses and to recommend preventative measures. [9733/02]
Brian O'Shea
Ceist:259 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children his proposals to introduce an improved compensation package for psychiatric nurses (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9851/02]
Gay Mitchell
Ceist:260 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children his proposals to extend the compensation scheme for psychiatric nurses who suffer attack. [9873/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 244, 245, 259 and 260 together.
I met with the Psychiatric Nurses' Association recently to discuss their proposals for the introduction of such a compensation scheme.
The Deputy should also be aware that the Irish Nurses Organisation and SIPTU have also sought a compensation scheme for nurses. The Health Service Employers Agency has indicated, in the context of the recent dispute in accident and emergency, that it is prepared to have discussions on this issue in the context of the wider health service.
The serious physical assault scheme, as revised recently, provides for special sick pay arrangements for a period up to six months, with provision for two further extensions of three months each. These extensions will be granted where a return to work is highly probable.
The scheme also provides that where a health board employee has not recovered from his/her injuries or is certified permanently incapacitated as a result of a serious physical assault incurred in the course of his/her duty, article 109 of the local government superannuation scheme may be invoked. Under the terms of that scheme, a grant not exceeding five sixths of remuneration, inclusive of the money value of emoluments, of the position in which he/she received the injury is payable. The scheme also provides for a refund of expenditure incurred in respect of treatment provided by the Irish public health service. General practitioner, casualty and consultant visits, and prescription charges, can be recouped under the terms of the scheme. Similar arrangements apply in the public voluntary hospital and mental handicap sector.
The question of researching the factors which predispose to assaults on nurses and to recommend preventative measures was also discussed at my meeting with the Psychiatric Nurses' Association. My Department is considering this issue at present.