Written answers

Tuesday, 2 November 2021

Department of Health

Health Services Staff

Photo of Neale RichmondNeale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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1012. To ask the Minister for Health if he has considered creating the grade of advanced practice physiotherapist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52867/21]

Photo of Neale RichmondNeale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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1038. To ask the Minister for Health if he has considered creating the grade of advanced practice physiotherapist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52980/21]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1012 and 1038 together.

The Minister considers all new grades proposed by the HSE, however, to date the proposal for Advanced Practice Physiotherapist has not been submitted to the Department for consideration. The HSE has a robust internal process which screens all potential new grades ensuring that they fit with Sláintecare reforms and that they are remunerated in line with their complexity and scope and represent international best practice.

Progressing advanced practice for Health and Social Care Professions including physiotherapy aligns with and supports the delivery of Sláintecare, all staff working at top of licence, to help address staffing shortages in the health services and support retention of Health and Social Care Professions who might otherwise be lost due to lack of opportunities for career progression in clinical roles.

From a strategic point of the view HSCP Deliver, A HSCP Strategic Guidance Framework for Health and Social Care Professions 2021-2026(National HSCP Office, HSE 2021), which was launched by the HSE Chief Clinical Officer and Chief Operations Officer, includes commitments for the National Health and Social Care Professions Office with regard to progressing advanced practice for Health and Social Care Professions. With support from the HSE Chief Clinical Officer and sponsorship from the HSE National Lead for Integrated Care, the National Health and Social Care Professions Office is leading a project which is focused on developing a framework to progress advanced practice, for Health and Social Care Professions.

The HSE is supportive of progressing advanced practice for physiotherapy as part of a wider response to population health care needs that will include all relevant professions within the Health and Social Care Professions group to assist in addressing health care priorities such as waiting list reduction, admission avoidance, patient flow and egress from the acute hospital, and develop the advance practitioner role to address key health issues and assist in the delivery of healthcare reform.

The HSE Integrated Care Lead and National HSCP Office are committed to working in partnership with all stakeholders to progress advanced practice including patients/service users, other clinical colleagues including medical, nursing and midwifery and other health care professionals, Professional bodies, HSE and the Department of Health.

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