NMBI Irish Healthcare System 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the difference between public and private healthcare in Ireland?
- Public healthcare is funded by taxation and provided by the HSE; private healthcare is funded by private health insurance or out-of-pocket payments and provided by private hospitals and consultants (Correct answer)
- There is no private healthcare in Ireland
- Public healthcare is free for everyone regardless of income
- Private healthcare is only available outside Ireland
Correct answer: Public healthcare is funded by taxation and provided by the HSE; private healthcare is funded by private health insurance or out-of-pocket payments and provided by private hospitals and consultants
Ireland has a two-tier system: public healthcare through the HSE (funded by taxation, with charges for some services) and private healthcare (funded by private health insurance, approximately 46% of the population have PHI). Many consultants work in both systems.
Question 2: What is the role of the community nursing service in Ireland?
- To provide nursing care in patients' homes and communities, including public health nursing, community RGN services, and specialist community nursing (Correct answer)
- Community nurses only work in nursing homes
- Community nursing services are not available in Ireland
- Community nurses only provide wound care
Correct answer: To provide nursing care in patients' homes and communities, including public health nursing, community RGN services, and specialist community nursing
Community nursing in Ireland includes public health nurses (PHNs) who provide health promotion and screening, community registered general nurses who provide home nursing care, and specialist community nurses (palliative care, mental health, intellectual disability) who support patients in their homes.
Question 3: What is the National Ambulance Service (NAS) and how does it interface with hospital nursing?
- The NAS provides emergency pre-hospital care and patient transport, with clinical handover protocols ensuring continuity of care when transferring patients to hospital nursing teams (Correct answer)
- The NAS only provides ambulance transport, not clinical care
- The NAS is a private company
- Hospital nurses have no interaction with the NAS
Correct answer: The NAS provides emergency pre-hospital care and patient transport, with clinical handover protocols ensuring continuity of care when transferring patients to hospital nursing teams
The NAS provides emergency response (advanced and emergency paramedics), intermediate care, and patient transport services. Clinical handover from NAS paramedics to hospital nursing and medical teams uses structured tools (like ISBAR) to ensure continuity of care and safe transfer of patient information.
Question 4: What are the key provisions of the Health Act 2007 regarding residential care?
- It established the registration and inspection system for nursing homes and other designated centres, enforced by HIQA (Correct answer)
- It only applies to public hospitals
- It abolished all nursing homes in Ireland
- It has no relevance to nursing practice
Correct answer: It established the registration and inspection system for nursing homes and other designated centres, enforced by HIQA
The Health Act 2007 established the system for registering and inspecting residential care services including nursing homes, disability centres, and children's residential centres. HIQA conducts inspections against national standards and can impose conditions, attach sanctions, or cancel registration.
Question 5: What is the Fair Deal Scheme (Nursing Homes Support Scheme) in Ireland?
- A scheme where the State pays a portion of nursing home care costs, with the resident contributing based on their income and assets (means-tested) (Correct answer)
- A scheme providing free nursing home care to everyone
- A private health insurance product
- A scheme that only applies to public nursing homes
Correct answer: A scheme where the State pays a portion of nursing home care costs, with the resident contributing based on their income and assets (means-tested)
The Fair Deal Scheme provides financial support for people who need long-term nursing home care. The resident contributes 80% of their assessable income and up to 7.5% of the value of their assets per annum (capped at 3 years for principal residence). The State pays the balance.
Question 6: What is the Children First Act 2015 and what are nurses' obligations under it?
- It places a legal obligation on mandated persons (including nurses) to report child protection concerns to Tusla (the Child and Family Agency) (Correct answer)
- It only applies to teachers and social workers
- It is a voluntary reporting guideline
- It only applies to children under 5 years of age
Correct answer: It places a legal obligation on mandated persons (including nurses) to report child protection concerns to Tusla (the Child and Family Agency)
The Children First Act 2015 makes nurses 'mandated persons' who must report concerns about child abuse or neglect to Tusla. This is a legal obligation, not discretionary. Nurses must also assist Tusla in assessments when requested and complete Children First training.
NMBI Irish Healthcare System 2
What is the difference between public and private healthcare in Ireland?