Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 306: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if physician assistants have formal recognition within the health profession; his plans to bring these qualifications into recognition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8294/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Physician assistants do not currently have formal recognition within the health profession in Ireland. The National Task Force on Medical Staffing, in its 2003 Report, examined the scope for introducing or further developing grades of staff which would facilitate a more appropriate distribution of skills and functions. One of the grades considered by the Task Force was that of Physician Assistant (PA). At that time, the Task Force did not see a role for PAs in Ireland because the tasks typically performed by them can safely be done by existing health professionals, in many cases by those in medical training. However, the Task force recommended that the case for introducing PAs at a later stage should be kept under review.

More recent studies, including the Final Report of the National Implementation Group on the European Working Time Directive, have highlighted the need to take actions to improve skill mix and transfer duties to the most appropriate healthcare workers. Likewise the development of advanced nurse practitioner posts and the movement towards nurse prescribing reflects current thinking on the delivery of care at the most appropriate and effective level.

The delivery of health care in the future in the most appropriate setting and at the most appropriate level will involve changes to the current skill mix. The introduction or development of grades of staff, including Physician Assistant, will be considered in the context of reform of the health services as set out in the Programme for Government and changes to the model for delivery of services.