David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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1428. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to provide funding for training and education of general practice nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29073/22]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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1429. To ask the Minister for Health to provide an outline of the career pathway of general practice nurses and the ways in which they are supported to progress in their careers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29074/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1428 and 1429 together.

Practice nurses are not employees of the HSE but are privately employed by general practitioners.

GPs contracted under the GMS scheme with a panel size of 100 patients or more receive a contribution towards the cost of employing a practice nurse.

Practice nurses must be registered on the live general register of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). They are responsible for their own scope of practice which is guided by the NMBI. There is no mandatory education or training to become a practice nurse. Ideally, practice nurses should have at least 2 years post-registration general nursing experience. However, 4 to 5 years post-graduate experience is more desirable. This enables nurses to develop their competencies in a broader clinical background.

Practice nurses may undertake further education. For example, education on:

- respiratory management

- diabetes management

- cardiovascular disease management

- women's health

- cancer screening

- immunisation

The HSE employs professional development coordinators for practice nursing (PDCPN) These coordinators:

- have responsibility for the strategic development of practice nursing

- provide guidance and direction for practice nursing

- work as the link between the HSE and practice nurses

- facilitate education and continuing professional and role development

- collaborate with relevant healthcare professionals, educational bodies and other stakeholders.

The 2019 GP Agreement includes a commitment to undertake a strategic review of GP services within the lifetime of the Agreement, to examine how best to ensure the provision of GP services in Ireland for the future. The Government is open to considering other options of support for general practice as part of the strategic review. The outcome of this review will inform future contractual changes, with preparatory work for the review having begun this year.

The Minister published the Expert Review Body on Nursing and Midwifery 2022 which is a pathway for developing and strengthening the roles of the nurse and the midwife. It contains 47 recommendations that will support nurses and midwives to continue to learn and develop in professional roles, enabling significant reform and ensuring that critical Sláintecare priorities are realised. One of the recommendations will require the identification and development of clinical nurse/midwifery specialist and advanced nursing/midwifery practice career pathways to meet service demands in community and primary care settings. The Chief Nursing Office in my Department is currently exploring options in relation to the provision of education programmes for practice nurses.