Nursing Homes Ireland has welcomed the new €3.2m postgraduate training programme
Friday February 23, 2024
Statement by Tadhg Daly, CEO, Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI) re new Postgraduate Gerontological Nursing Programme for Private Nursing Homes
Nursing Homes Ireland has welcomed the new €3.2m postgraduate training programme which will provide State support for registered nurses in private nursing homes to obtain a Postgraduate Diploma in Gerontological Nursing.
Announced jointly today by Minister for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler TD and Minister for Skills and Further Education, Niall Collins TD, the new funding programme has been developed as a response to recommendations in the COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel report.
Tadhg Daly, CEO of Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI), said the development was an extremely important move to further support the quality of care delivered to nursing home residents across Ireland.
“NHI continually champions education and supports members within the private and voluntary nursing home sector to engage in the vital training necessary to provide care to the highest standards. Supporting increased numbers of registered nurses who are qualified in Gerontological Nursing will further enhance the specialist knowledge in our nursing homes.
“As a member of the LHP Skillnet steering group, NHI has actively supported this initiative from the outset so I would like to thank the Ministers and their officials, who have engaged constructively with NHI on this programme, for their committed work in this respect. Indeed, we very much look forward to working with Departments on similar initiatives in the care of the older person in the future.”
The funding allocation will be provided over two years and will provide funded places in the academic years 2024/2025 and 2025/2026. All private nursing homes will be invited to apply for one QQI Level 9 Gerontological Nursing Qualification placement over this period.
LHP Skillnet, which is to manage the initiative, will be issuing calls to Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) this week through e-tenders and we, in NHI, will be hosting an information webinar on February 26th, with LHP Skillnet, for nursing homes.
ENDS