James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 300: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the arrangements in place to provide medical practitioners with locum cover in order that they can fulfil the required time commitment as supervisors of the new nursing prescribing scheme (details supplied); her views on whether if no such arrangements are in place the value of the nursing prescribing certificate will be in serious doubt due to inadequate professional medical supervision and training; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1081/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The introduction of nurse/midwife prescribing is a real and significant change in nursing practice in Ireland. There is strong international experience that supports nurse/midwife prescribing as being effective and safe and improving services to patients. The extension of prescriptive authority to nurse and midwives will ensure that patients will receive earlier interventions and therefore a better quality service. Nurse/midwife prescribing will assist the development of a service based on the right person delivering the right care in the right setting at the right time.

This initiative is fully supported by the nursing and midwifery professions across a range of disciplines. In fact the first hospital to introduce nurse/midwife prescribing in Ireland is the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street.

Nurse/midwife prescribing will also promote the more effective utilisation of the nursing resource, both in terms of nurses/midwives and their skills and will facilitate the optimum utilisation of the medical resource.

The provision of locum cover for medical practitioners who are providing supervision in the training component of the new nurse prescribing education programme is a matter for the Health Service Executive and I have asked the Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in this regard.

I am satisfied that appropriate arrangements are being put in place to facilitate the planned implementation of the nurse prescribing initiative. It is my understanding that before a medical practitioner agrees to act as a mentor he/she is advised of the commitment required in relation to clinical supervision, support and learning opportunities for the student. If an employer is unable to put adequate arrangements in place to support a nurse/midwife wishing to undertake the education programme, or if a medical practitioner is not in a position to give the required commitment to provide the relevant supervision, then the nurse/midwife in question will not be accepted onto the education programme.

I fully support the concept of nurse/midwife prescribing and I understand that the roll-out of the initiative is happening in accordance with the implementation plan devised by the Resource and Implementation Group which was established by my Department and which is overseeing the project.