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Database of Health Workforce Innovations

668
ID
668
Emergency legislation to enable no-fee registration of nurses and midwives
Created
2020-08-26 20:34:46
Created by
Ali Coates
Updated by
Ali Coates
Update time
2020-08-26 20:34:46
The new legislation amended the rules for registration for nursing and midwifery to remove the need to pay fees for those restoring their registration if they have voluntarily removed in the last 5 years. It also sped up the process for EU nurses and waived their fees too.
The removal of the fee increased the N&M workforce by approx 600 in the first few weeks of the crisis.
  • Return of retirees
  • Licensure flexibility
  • Midwives
  • Nurse Practitioners*
  • Nurse Specialists*
  • Nurses - Licensed Practical
  • Nurses - Registered
Nursing and midwifery in Ireland is regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland under the appropriate legislation (Nursing and Midwifery Act 2011). In response to the COVID crisis, there was a need to review the registration process to eliminate any barriers nurses and midwives to join the workforce as quickly as possible.

The Minister for Health enacted emergency legislation which affected numerous healthcare profession (Dentists Act 1985, the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005, the Pharmacy Act 2007, the Medical Practitioners Act 2007, and the Nurses and Midwives Act 2011) with the Emergency Measure in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Bill 2020.
  • Community Health Services
  • Critical Care
  • Diagnostic Services
  • Emergency Medical Services
  • Home Care Services
  • Hospitals
  • Long-Term Care
  • Mental Health Services
  • Primary Health Care
  • Public Health
  • Other
There was a significant number of Irish nurses abroad wishing to come home to help with the COVID work. Many stakeholder worked together to get the legislation written and passed very quickly.
Formal Policy
Approx 600 restored registration in first few weeks
https://www.nmbi.ie/News/News/Registration-Guidance-for-Resident-or-Recently-Ret
Europe (non-UK)
Ireland
English
Grey Literature

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