Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

An issue I am dealing with is that of rare diseases, in which regard I had to write to 41 organisations. This is slightly different from the area in which the delegates are involved, but I am trying to co-ordinate them in order that they can work towards improving the services required. They have dealt comprehensively with how they co-ordinate their services, which is very welcome. That is the only way to deliver the best possible level of care.

Is it possible to upskill care assistants and other such staff who are not qualified nurses but who are very effective in providing care? Is work being done in this regard? We have not focused on this issue. Much work done by nurses in hospitals here is done by care assistants in other countries. We should examine this aspect. Have the delegates worked on introducing a training programme for persons who do not have a nursing qualification but who have a huge interest in this area and would love to become involved in it to bring them up to a certain level to provide this support?