Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 February 2017
457. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the details of the recent agreement under which the time and one-sixth twilight payment to nurses working in the evening was restored in return for taking on tasks previously carried out by doctors; and if this payment has been restored to nurses working in all HSE and voluntary hospitals. [7107/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra458. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if the tasks previously carried out by non-consultant hospital doctors are being undertaken by nurses in all HSE and voluntary hospitals; and if not, the details of the hospitals in which this is not happening. [7108/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 457 and 458 together.
The Haddington Road Agreement addressed the potential for task transfer of four specified tasks from NCHDs to nurses and midwives. Subsequently a related Chairman’s note to the Lansdowne Road Agreement set out a framework for progressing this matter, encompassing the transfer of 4 tasks (including 1st dose antibiotics, phlebotomy, cannulation and discharge where appropriate) from doctors to nurses. A final agreement on the transfer of tasks was concluded on 17th December 2015 encompassing the roll-out of the transfer of the identified tasks and the provision of training where required for the acute sector. While there was some delay in payment arrangements being finalised all nurses and midwives working 6-8pm in the acute sector are now receiving payment (time and one sixth) and should also have received backmoney for the period from 1 January 2016.
The focus of the Agreement is on improving patient care and supporting early and timely interventions. It is noted that the tasks are to be transferred in the context of the provision of the necessary training programmes, relevant resources being available, existing arrangements for the provision of some of the tasks, for example phlebotomy teams, and that doctors would continue to perform the tasks. A core principle is that the task is undertaken by the staff member who is most appropriate to do so at that time and in that location. The National Implementation and Verification Group was satisfied that the tasks had been transferred in all HSE and voluntary hospitals on the basis provided for in the Agreement or that the roll-out of the training programmes had been progressed sufficiently to justify payment under the terms of the Agreement.
