Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
1425. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding regulations relating to life-saving medicines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32868/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs you are aware, Statutory Instrument SI No. 449 of 2015 Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations allows trained non-medical persons to administer six prescription–only medicines to a person, without a prescription, for the purpose of saving their life or reducing severe distress in an emergency situation.
These Regulations were put into place to expand upon an existing and long-standing practice whereby any person may administer or assist in the administration of a person’s personally prescribed medicine, e.g. their inhaler, again for the purpose of saving their life or reducing severe distress in an emergency situation.
To ensure that the six scheduled medicines in this Regulation are administered safely, the legislation requires that a non-medical person completes an approved training course for the medicines that they wish to administer.
The Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) is responsible for approving the training courses for persons engaged or employed by listed organisations for the supply and administration of medicinal products in emergencies. Listed organisations can include schools, sports clubs and other community groups, voluntary groups and rescue organisations. While PHECC approve these training courses, the decision to undertake them lies solely with the organisation that wishes to gain approval under the Regulations to administer one of the scheduled medications.
PHECC have advised that the Cardiac First Response and Medications for Listed Organisations (CFR and MLO) Salbutamol course incorporates the basic modules of Cardiac First Response Community which importantly teaches Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and the duration of the course may be between 6-8 hours. This time period facilitates the teaching, learning and skill assessment required for non-medical persons to safely care for persons/patients in the community who may be experiencing a life-threatening condition such as an acute asthmatic attack. Acute illness can progress very quickly to cardiac arrest therefore all authorised persons must be able to identify and treat a cardiac arrest which is the minimum clinical training required prior to completion of the medication modules. The 2 modules focusing on Salbutamol - medication management and medicinal product administration are part of the course duration and generally are allotted 2-4 hours of teaching time. Should a person have a current cardiac first response (CFR) certificate this part of the programme (4 hours) does not have to be repeated.
Furthermore, PHECC advise that they welcome all opportunities to engage with other bodies and in this case specifically the Department of Education and schools to increase the public’s involvement for the education and training for CFR and MLO courses, and explore potential or perceived barriers to facilitate and support the legislative requirements of SI 449 of 2015.
