Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I am pleased to provide the Deputy with an update on the Programme for Government commitment to develop the role of advanced nurse practitioners in older person services and chronic disease management. In November 2021, I increased the target of the number of nurses and midwives practicing at an advanced level across the health service from 2% of the total nursing and midwifery workforce to 3%.I am pleased to note that , as of November 2023, the total number of nurses and midwives at advanced practice level was 1,087 WTE, which is just over 2.3% of the nursing and midwifery workforce.

Advanced Nurse / Midwife Practitioners (ANMPs) provide complete episodes of care and timely access to healthcare and earlier interventions. Creating a critical mass of ANMPs will contribute effectively and efficiently to addressing population health needs and has demonstrated improved patient experience, reduced waiting times and reduced admissions to hospitals. ANMPs contribute to service reform by providing the right care, at the right time, and in the right place.

This Government has invested heavily in Advanced Practice for Nurses and Midwives, particularly since the publication of the Policy on the Development of Graduate to Advanced Nursing and Midwifery Practice for Nurses and Midwives(Department of Health, 2019). The role of ANMPs and the allocation of ANMPs across the various service areas is aligned with policy priorities. This includes older persons services and chronic disease management.

In 2020, 52 new ANMP posts were created. Of these, 12 were allocated to older persons services and a further 16 to chronic disease management.

In 2022, I allocated €11m to the HSE to recruit 149 ANMPs, 15 of which were allocated to Integrated Care Programme for Older Persons and 12 were allocated to chronic disease management.

In 2023, I announced the creation of a further 80 ANMP posts. 10 of these posts were allocated to older persons and 27 were allocated to chronic disease management. The table below sets out the total number of new ANP posts allocated to Older Persons Services and Chronic Disease Management since 2020.

New ANP posts since 2020 for Older Persons Services and Chronic Disease Management

The HSE have advised that within the older persons service, there are currently 148 ANP posts; and in chronic disease management there are currently 78 ANP posts. These numbers will be added to when the 37 allocated posts for 2023 have all been filled.