Nurses and midwives will be able to prescribe medicines in certain circumstances under plans to be announced by the Minister for Health later today.
New legislation will allow a registered nurse who has approved training and the appropriate clinical experience to prescribe a range of medications within their scope of practice
The first group of nurses is expected to start training in April, with 50 places available.
INO General Secretary Liam Doran said this morning Minister for Health Mary Harney "is to be congratulated on her persistence, focus and determination to bring this positive development to the stage where it is now becoming a clinical reality.
"International research and experience has demonstrated that extending prescriptive authority to nurses and midwives enhances patient care outcomes and is shown to be cost efficient and effective."
