A review published today recommends that prescriptive authority should be extended to nurses and midwives and that legislation should be amended to enable this.
The review also recommends there should be an explicit legislative base for the expansion of the use of medication protocols by nurses and midwives in hospital and community settings.
The Review of Nurses and Midwives in the Prescribing and Administration of Medicinal Products, which was jointly conducted by An Bord Altranais and the National Council for the professional development of nursing and midwifery, was uveiled today by Minister for Health Mary Harney.
Ms Harney said she intends "to bring forward enabling legislation for prescribing by certain nurses and midwives".
Ms Harney said: "This move is in the interest of patients and I want to ensure that this happens in a way that makes the best use of the professionals working in the system.
"I support prescriptive authority for nurses in situations where it would mean greater accessibility and convenience for patients, where it would help community services and acute services and where it is safe," she added.
In other countries - such as the United States, Britain and Australia - nurses and midwives have prescribing rights, and the Tánaiste suggested some of the models used in those countries could be applied in Ireland.
