Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 8:

In page 44, between lines 9 and 10, to insert the following:

“ “coronial post-mortem” shall be construed in accordance with section 38(2)(b);

“designated healthcare worker” means—

(a) a registered medical practitioner,

(b) a registered nurse or registered midwife within the meaning of section 2(1) of the Nurses and Midwives Act 2011,

(c) a member of one or more of the following designated professions within the meaning of section 3 of the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005, namely:

(i) medical scientist;

(ii) psychologist;

(iii) social care worker;

(iv) social worker;

(v) such other designated profession within the meaning of the said section 3 of the said Act as the Minister considers appropriate and may prescribe by regulations under section 3,

(d) an anatomical pathology technician, or

(e) a staff member nominated for that purpose by the hospital concerned,

who by way of training and expertise has the relevant understanding and experience to undertake functions under this Part;”.

These amendments relate to the designated healthcare workers. We are making an amendment in order to provide a definition of “designated healthcare worker”. Under consequential amendments to other sections within this part of the Bill, a designated healthcare worker will be able to take on functions relating to the legislation such as the obtaining of consent. In the published Bill, these functions were limited to a registered medical professional. Following consultation with the working group charged by the HSE with updating clinical guidance for the conduct of post-mortem examinations, we have designed to broaden this out to reflect best practice and to ensure that a multidisciplinary approach can be taken and supported through the legislation. The ability to take on functions as prescribed in the Bill will be conditional on the person having the relevant training, expertise, understanding and experience to undertake the role.