Written answers

Tuesday, 28 June 2005

Department of Health and Children

Health Service Strategy

10:00 pm

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 191: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of care assistants graduating from the health care assistants programme from 2003 to date. [22073/05]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The health care assistant or HCA grade supports the work of nurses-midwives and acts under their supervision. Health care assistants and similar grades such as nurse's aide and ward attendant have been a feature of the Irish health service for some time. In recent years there has been investment in the upskilling of these grades so that they can play a greater role in the delivery of care and allow nurses to concentrate on more high level work appropriate to their education and training.

Section 23 of Sustaining Progress includes a commitment to the implementation of improved skill mix in the health service. There is a recognition of the need to mainstream existing developments including greater use of health care assistants. The report of the Commission on Nursing, 1998, made recommendations in paragraphs 4.55 and 7.63 regarding the scope for increased use of care assistants and other non-nursing personnel in the performance of non-nursing tasks. Specifically, paragraph 7.63 recommended that a group be established to "examine opportunities for the increased use of care assistants and other non-nursing personnel in the performance of other non-nursing tasks".

A group was established to examine the effective utilisation of professional skills of nurses and midwives and issued its report in May 2001. The group recommended that the grade of health care assistant-maternity health care assistant be introduced as a member of the health care team to assist and support the nursing and midwifery function. It also made recommendations related to the education and training of health care assistants including that the health care support certificate, FETAC (NCVA, Level 2) qualification be the preparation required for employment as a health care assistant.

Health care assistants are now integrated into many health care teams. In 2003, 513 health care assistants undertook the health care support certificate. During 2004-05, more than 900 health care assistants undertook the health care support certificate. In addition, health care assistants have been introduced in eight pilot sites in the mental health services and they are undertaking the health care support certificate. The pilot programme in mental health services is currently being evaluated.

This vocational education programme has enhanced the skills and competency levels of health care assistants. As a result, health care organisations are increasingly recognising the potential of health care assistants and have requested further development of their role. It is intended that the training of health care assistants be enhanced to include the taking and reporting of vital signs. This was recently the subject of an industrial relations dispute with the Irish Nurses Organisation but following the intervention of the national implementation body it was recommended that there be immediate and full co-operation with all of the preparation and training arrangements necessary for the introduction of the programme at the earliest possible date. A process is now in place to deal with the issues in relation to implementation of this programme.

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