943 nurses have names removed from register for not paying fees

MORE than 900 nurses have had their names removed from the Register of Nurses over their failure to pay annual fees to An Bord Altranais.

The nursing board has confirmed that the High Court recently approved the removal off the register of the names of 943 nurses who had owed fees for two or more years.

Originally, a total of 1,775 nurses were due to be struck off for the non-payment of fees.

However, the decision to erase 832 names was rescinded when they paid their outstanding fees after being issued with a final warning. The annual retention fee is currently €88. There are over 67,000 nurses on the active register.

A spokesperson for An Bord Altranais said the number of nurses due to be struck off for the non-payment of fees had increased by approximately 100 this year. On average, between 800 and 850 names are erased from the register each year.

However, the spokesperson said it is likely that most of the individuals whose names are being taken off the register are no longer working or resident in Ireland.

While many of those struck off are foreign nationals who have probably left Ireland, it is also likely that some nurses are still in employment here.

However, a nurse must be registered with An Bord Altranais to practise nursing in Ireland and to use the title “nurse”.

The board also notifies the HSE, as well as any known specific employer of an individual nurse, that their name has been removed from the register.

Any nurse seeking to have their name restored to the register must pay a restoration fee of €145 plus €100 in legal costs as well as any arrears.