Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 July 2019
1807. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the reviews of the roles and responsibilities of health professionals providing extended scope of practice that have been undertaken since 2016. [34087/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2016, the Programme for Partnership Government set out its commitments in relation to the roles and responsibilities of various healthcare professionals working in our hospitals. In particular, the commitment states that this includes a 'further transfer of tasks between doctors and nurses, a greater role and extended scope of practice, including the authority to order and report on scans, for radiographers and radiation therapists'.
In 2016, an agreement on the transfer of tasks was reached between health service management, the IMO, INMO and SIPTU to enable nursing/midwifery staff to take on four key tasks from NCHDs. In 2019, with regard to nurses, agreement was reached on a new Enhanced Nurse / Midwife Practice role.
I can also advise that a radiographer review group has been examining proposals in relation to an extended scope of practice for radiographers.
