Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)

We had a fair amount of discussion last week about nurses prescribing. Nurses work as part of a multidisciplinary team and it is anticipated that only a small number of nurses will be involved in independent prescribing. It will be in the context of their work with the multidisciplinary team. Examples are nurse-led services such as minor injury units, chronic disease management, such as asthma or diabetes, or specialist nurses in palliative care. In time, nurses in the community and nurses involved in care of the elderly could also be involved in independent prescribing in limited circumstances, such as antibiotics for minor infections and so forth.

As I said last week, there will be full consultation with all stakeholders. A detailed review of this Bill was published by An Bord Altranais for the benefit of nurses. This is enabling legislation and the details will follow after consultation. This is the correct legislative way as it covers the supply and administration of medication.

With regard to the role of pharmacists in prescribing, this was discussed and ruled out for this Bill. I accept Senator Minihan's comments that pharmacists, in their own right, would have a claim to prescribe. There will be problems when the legislation is enacted in the UK, particularly for Border counties. If pharmacists in the UK have powers to prescribe certain medications and pharmacists in the Republic do not, it will be a problem for pharmacists in the Border counties. We will examine this again. It could result in further legislation but there is no provision to introduce it in this legislation.