Ms Anne Tan:

A question was asked about the role played by public health nurse in decision-making, particularly decisions on the care afforded through care packages. A public health nurse is well positioned to assess a patient and decide what care is required and who is best placed to provide same. In most cases, he or she does not make the decision on how much care and time will be provided. That decision is made by the HSE administrator.

From a public health nurse point of view, there is a need for more funding in the area and for public health nurses to have more say in where the funding goes and its prioritisation, particularly for palliative care patients.