Medicinal Products

Wednesday, 10 July 2024

Questions (293)

Thomas Gould

Question:

293. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health for a timeline for provision of nurse prescribing of opioids. [30195/24]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Colm Burke)

Nurses play an key role in providing treatment interventions to clients with problematic drug use. Their work forms an important element of the addiction services response to the problem of substance use in our society.

HSE Addiction services across the country employ nurses and a comprehensive governance structure for these staff is currently being put in place. This includes the recent appointment of a Director of Nursing for HSE Addiction services.

Based on the HSE report on action 14, of the National Drug Strategy in examining potential mechanisms to increase access to Opioid Substitution Therapies, there is currently no objective need for the introduction of nurse prescribing of OST/OAT.

I am assured that the contribution of nurses will be kept to the fore in the provision of services for those on OST/OAT.