In response to concerns from ICGP members about the recent decision of the MDU not to cover practice nurses to do cervical smears, the ICGP Women's Health Programme has written to the MDU to express its concern and urge the MDU to reconsider its decision. The MDU has now changed its position and has issued this statement in correspondence with the ICGP.
Dear Dr Daly
The MDU can offer individual membership to nurses carrying out standard nurse duties in a conventional GP practice in Ireland where more than 50% of the partners (or practice owners) are MDU members.
The MDU does not offer practice nurse membership to nurses undertaking extended duties. Notwithstanding this, we are prepared to consider individual requests to extend the benefits of membership for nursing members who are adequately trained to perform cervical screening independently and without supervision.
We would ask any nursing members to contact our Membership Department on telephone number 1800 716 376 to confirm that they are undertaking cervical screening with information regarding their training so that we can consider their request to extend the benefits of membership.
I hope that this clarifies the position.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Pierre Campbell
Head of Underwriting
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