Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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520. To ask the Minister for Health if a national education programme to prepare 130 nurses for advanced practitioner roles has been commissioned; and if not, when same will occur. [30258/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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In 2017, the HSE commissioned a consortium of four universities (UCC, NUIG, UCD and TCD) to deliver a broad-based education programme for advanced nursing practice in partnership with services to support nurses to practice across the services including integrated care, in the areas of chronic disease management, older person care and unscheduled care.

In October 2017, 120 candidate ANP’s commenced an education programme in the service areas of chronic disease management (rheumatology and respiratory medicine), older persons care and unscheduled care across the country. The service areas for ANP development reflect priority service challenges in respect of access, waiting lists, hospital avoidance, and improved patient flow. This project was extended in 2018 with a further 30 candidate ANPs being funded by my Department through the HSE to undertake education and have their posts backfilled in the same areas of practice.