Nurses are expected to receive a pay boost of about €20 per week as part of a new deal which will see them taking over some roles traditionally carried out by doctors.
The move effectively represents the reintroduction of the former additional payments made to nurses for working in the evening.
So-called “twilight payments” of time and one sixth for work carried out between 6pm and 8pm were abolished on foot of the Haddington Road agreement on public service pay in 2013.
However, the payment is now to be reintroduced on foot of a new deal which will see nurses taking on roles previously carried out by doctors.
Knock-on claims
It is expected the new payment for nurses will lead to knock-on claims being lodged immediately by other healthcare staff for similar arrangements.
The tasks previously carried out by doctors which will be taken over by nurses are:
*First dose medication
*IV cannulation
*Phlebotomy
* Delegated discharge
Approval for the new arrangement was granted by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in recent days.
Minister for Health Leo Varadkar said on Wednesday: "Since I was a medical student, people have been talking about nurses taking over these tasks from junior doctors. I am really delighted to have got it over the line as Health Minister.
‘Win-win for everyone’
“This is a win-win for everyone. Nurses will be able to use their new skills and they will benefit financially in return for taking on this additional work.
“Junior doctors will benefit, as the reduced workload will help us to continue to reduce their working hours and they will be less likely to miss out on important training time in theatre and in clinics.
“Patients will benefit as there will be fewer delays when it comes to getting their IV antibiotics, their bloods taken or discharge papers, and there will be fewer delays for patients in the clinic waiting rooms as doctors won’t be expected to be on the wards and in a clinic at the same time as frequently as they are now.”
The new payments will be introduced from July 1st on foot of a new verification process but will be backdated to the beginning of January.
