Written answers

Tuesday, 9 October 2018

Department of Health

Health Services Staff

Photo of Anne RabbitteAnne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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378. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that physiotherapists within the Health Service Executive who have submitted a section 38 registration application to CORU and are awaiting approval have not been allowed to continue to work as physiotherapists after 30 September 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41241/18]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly on this matter.

Photo of Anne RabbitteAnne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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379. To ask the Minister for Health if the number of physiotherapists within the Health Service Executive who have been downgraded to work as physiotherapy assistants while awaiting CORU registration and the impact it has on patient care will be examined; if this will be considered a break in service for employees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41242/18]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly on this matter.

Photo of Anne RabbitteAnne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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380. To ask the Minister for Health the status of CORU physiotherapist registration processing times; if he is satisfied that processing times are adequate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41243/18]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The two year transition period for the Physiotherapists in question to register with the Physiotherapists Registration Board (CORU) commenced in September 2016. This means that these physiotherapists were required to have applied for registration by 30 September 2018.

During this two year period, CORU met with and continually encouraged physiotherapists to register in a timely manner. This included visits by the CEO and her team to many hospitals and meetings with the union and the professional body. Extensive information was made available on the registration process and, in particular, the documentation to be submitted by the applicant and the time lines involved in processing an application, including Garda vetting. I met with the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists on number of occasions in 2017 on various issues and requested that they have their members register with CORU without delay.

A number of Physiotherapists left it until the closing stages of the two year period to apply for registration, with much of the documentation submitted being incomplete despite extensive information having been made available by CORU at various information session over the past two years and comprehensive information on the application process been made available on its website. CORU is working tirelessly in assisting late applicants gain entry to the Register of Physiotherapists and is keeping all applicants updated on their application for registration.

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