Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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355. To ask the Minister for Health the groups and professions that will be newly prohibited from either referring or carrying out radiological tests following the transposition of the medical provisions of the basic safety standards directive; the reason for this new prohibition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5497/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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This question relates to the transposition of the medical provisions of the Basic Safety Standards Directive (BSSD) by my Department and the designation of referrers and practitioners in the transposing regulations. The designations proposed are based on patient safety and public health considerations reflected in the advice of the Chief Medical Officer.

In the Statutory Instrument (S.I.) transposing the BSSD, I propose to designate nurses, doctors, dentists and radiographers as referrers, who will be entitled to refer individuals for medical radiological procedures to a practitioner. I also propose to designate doctors, dentists and radiographers as practitioners in the transposing S.I., who will be entitled to take clinical responsibility for an individual medical exposure.

The BSSD also provides that practical aspects of medical radiological procedures (including carrying out a medical exposure) may be delegated as appropriate, to one or more individuals entitled to act in this respect in a recognised field of specialisation. In that regard, it is proposed that the transposing S.I. will provide that practical aspects may be delegated to nurses, doctors, dentists, dental nurses, dental hygienists, radiographers and medical physics experts who have completed a prescribed course in radiation safety. Individuals undergoing relevant training programmes may also participate in practical aspects of medical radiological procedures.

My Department conducted a general consultation on the BSSD in June 2017 and sought views on the provisions of the Directive where Member States had discretion including the designation of referrers and practitioners. The responses to this consultation also informed the proposed designation of relevant professionals.

Individuals who are not designated in the S.I. will not be entitled to carry out referrer/practitioner/delegated tasks.

The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment has overall responsibility for the transposition of the BSSD. My Department will finalise the medical provisions of the BSSD in the coming weeks.