The names of the first four nurse/midwife prescribers have been entered onto the Nurse Prescribers register maintained by An Bord Altranais. They are all from the National Maternity Hospital. 22 nurses and midwives graduated from the RCSI in November 2007 and a further 20 will graduate from UCC this month. By the end of 2008 it is expected that there will be about 150 nurses and midwives available to prescribe medications in areas such as Accident and Emergency Departments, cardiology, maternity services and other specialist care areas, for example, diabetes, respiratory and sexual health.

 

The Department of Health have really prioritised this area as on 30 November 2007 the Minister for Health and Children, Mary Harney commenced a consultation process on proposed new legislation for the regulation of nurses and midwives. The main aim of the proposed Nurses and Midwives Act 2008 is to protect the public and to ensure the integrity of these professions through the promotion of high standards of professional education, training, practice and professional conduct. The proposed Act also reflects the recommendations made in the Commission on Nursing Report 1998. See http://www.dohc.ie/issues/nurses_and_midwives/ for more detail. Latest date for receipt of responses is 5 February 2008.