Announcement Of The Public Consultation Regarding Proposed New Nurses And Midwives Legislation, Ireland

Main Category: Nursing / Midwifery
Article Date: 30 Nov 2007 - 5:00 PDT

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The Minister for Health and Children, Mary Harney, T.D. today, Friday 30 November 2007, announce a public consultation on proposed new legislation for the regulation of nurses and midwives.

The Minister wishes to obtain the views of the public and key stakeholders on the draft new legislation. The views expressed in this consultation process will be taken on board when finalising the legislation.

"The main objectives of this new legislation are to protect the public in its dealings with the professions of nursing and midwifery, and to ensure the integrity of these professions through the promotion of high standards of professional education, training and practice and professional conduct" the Minister said.

The draft new legislation for nurses and midwives will become part of a suite of legislative instruments to ensure greater accountability of all professions in healthcare. The Health & Social Care Professionals Act 2005, Medical Practitioners Act 2007 and Pharmacy Act 2007, as well as forthcoming legislation regulating dentists, have a common thread of ensuring robust governance, clarity of procedures and formal systems of accountability. They are aimed at the protection of the patient while at the same time recognising the need for due process in relation to the processing of allegations and complaints against healthcare professionals.

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