(South Tipperary) asked the Minister for Health if he will consider deferring the permanent filling of dispensary medical posts in larger centres pending the report of the Dáil Committee on the Health Act.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dispensary Medical Posts.
38.
I have given careful consideration to the question of deferring the permanent filling of vacant offices of district medical officer pending the outcome of examination by the Select Committee of Dáil Éireann of the practicability of extending a choice of doctor to the general medical service.
I have decided, in the interests of persons eligible for the general medical service and of medical practitioners, that the permanent filling of vacant offices of district medical officer should not be deferred. In reaching this decision I had particular regard to the difficulties which arose in Dublin a few years ago when doctors who had served continuously for long periods in a temporary capacity as district medical officers were displaced when recruitment to permanent posts in the area, which had been suspended for some time, was resumed.
Is the Minister aware that as a result of the decision which he has announced, it will become more difficult to modify the existing dispensary system by providing a choice of doctor in the larger centres of population?
Of course, I am well aware it will be somewhat more difficult, but the interests of the patients and the medical practitioners are paramount in the matter rather than the temporary convenience of the Minister for Health.
That seems to carry the implication that the decision given by the Minister for Finance when he was Minister for Health to continue temporary dispensary posts in Dublin city involved a poor system of medical care for people in this city. Is that the suggestion the Minister for Health is now making?
I did not make such a suggestion but the Deputy and his Party ought to be well aware of the furore which they created here when a number of medical practitioners who held posts of district medical officer on a temporary basis were displaced two years ago. I do not intend to give the Opposition a chance to make that cry again.
Is the Minister getting vulnerable now?
No; he is getting conciliatory.
In relation to Dublin medical posts, is the Minister not aware that the problem which arose was created by the fact that, as a result of the Minister's decision, men who had served for some 14 years in dispensary posts in this city did not get the permanent posts?
Not as a result of the Minister's decision but as a result of the findings of the Local Appointments Commission that there were better qualified persons to attend to those who were entitled to free general practitioner services in the city of Dublin.
Is the effect of what the Minister has said that as a result of the decision taken by the Minister for Finance, Deputy Dr. Ryan, when he was Minister for Health, unqualified persons were providing medical services in this city for some 14 years?
The Deputy is not going to get away with that because ——
The Minister will not get away with this reply.
——when Deputy Dr. Ryan was Minister for Health, he made a decision which he intended would apply for a limited period. It suited my predecessor to give effect to that decision for a period of years and——
I was not there for years.
——that is how the difficulty arose.
In the interests of proper health services, it might have been well if I had been there for years.