Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 September 2005
68 Mr. Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason An Bord Altranais is considering the removal of a midwifery qualification as a prerequisite for registration as a public health nurse; her views on whether this will impact on the care of mothers and babies in the community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26030/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Commission on Nursing in the Report of the Commission on Nursing 1998 considered that registration as a midwife should no longer be a mandatory requirement for entry to the higher diploma in public health nursing or registration as a public health nurse, PHN. It stated:
In light of the range of services offered by public health nurses and the ongoing development of nursing and midwifery services in the community, registration as a midwife should no longer be a mandatory requirement for entry to the higher diploma in public health nursing or registration as a public health nurse. An alternative education programme relating more closely to the core generic maternal and child care service requirements of public health nursing should replace the mandatory midwifery requirement. The commission recommends that the board establish a working party composed of PHNs, health service providers and nurse educators to determine the content and duration of a course in maternal and child health, as an alternative to the mandatory midwifery qualification.
Accordingly, An Bord Altranais, which is broadly representative consisting of 29 members, including 17 elected nurses from all divisions of the register of nurses, unanimously decided to remove the mandatory midwifery requirement for public health nursing in July 2002. The board subsequently developed the maternal and child health module for nurses who do not have a midwifery qualification, and thereafter the requirements and standards for public health nurse programmes. The maternal and child health module and the requirements and standards were developed by working groups that included key stakeholder representation including public health nursing course leaders, managers and clinicians. This publication is expected to be available within two to three weeks. It was proposed, as set out by the commission, that this course should be offered as an alternative to the mandatory midwifery qualification for PHN students. Those with midwifery registration would not be required to undertake the course. This course addresses the professional and practice issues as they relate to maternal and child health in a primary health care setting as a dimension of the role of the PHN, and includes both theoretical and clinical requirements.
