asked the Minister for Health when he will be in a position to make permanent dispensary appointments; and if he will indicate future official policy on these appointments.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dispensary Appointments.
46.
A competition for certain posts as district medical officer, with candidature limited to existing permanent holders of similar offices, was held by the Local Appointments Commissioners in June. I expect that appointments resulting from this competition will be made shortly.
It is also proposed that open competitions should be held by the Local Appointments Commissioners to fill vacant posts as district medical officer in certain areas where such appointments would not create serious difficulty on the introduction of the revised General Medical Service with choice of doctor. I am in consultation with the local health authorities in relation to the actual districts for which such appointments may be made. I cannot give the House particulars of them at this stage but I expect that about 25 posts can be scheduled for filling at present.
The posts as district medical officer in the areas concerned will be offered for filling on a permanent basis, but it will be made clear to candidates that, under the legislation to implement the proposals in the White Paper, the office of district medical officer would cease to exist. It is intended, however, that any person appointed to an office of district medical officer which is filled through such a competition will have a right to continue in the new service in his district on the terms and conditions applicable under it. I hope that negotiations on these terms and conditions will commence soon with the medical organisations.
Would the Minister not agree that a temporary appointment does not conduce to medical officers remaining long in one post because their salaries remain static? This is a very undesirable situation and can the Minister give some sort of guarantee now that new arrangements will be effected which will obviate this difficulty?
I agree the position is not satisfactory. In about six months the whole thing will be clarified.
In about six months it will be possible to have permanent appointments?
To have the situation clarified.
47.
asked the Minister for Health how many dispensary posts are at present occupied by temporary medical officers.
The number of permanent posts of district medical officer at present filled in a temporary capacity is 166.
48.
asked the Minister for Health if a dispensary doctor has been appointed for Nobber, County Meath; and, if not, what steps he proposes to take to ensure that the people of the area are not left any longer without a resident doctor.
The Local Appointments Commissioners have been requested to recommend a candidate to Meath County Council for appointment to the post of district medical officer, Nobber. It is understood that interviews were held recently in connection with the filling of this post and others. The results are not yet available.
The county council has been unable, despite advertisement, to make a temporary appointment of a resident doctor in Nobber and meanwhile the service is being provided by a doctor from an adjoining district.
The Minister is aware that in May of this year a number of applicants were to be considered for appointment as temporary medical officers. Nobber Dispensary was among the number and can the Minister say if it was not, in fact, possible to find a doctor prepared to take that dispensary at that time? If so, does he consider that the present interviews will be likely to have any better result and would he consider, therefore, offering some inducement? A lady doctor from a neighbouring district is doing the work in Nobber and she has about three times as much work as she can do. Would the Minister consider doing something to remedy the position?
I certainly will.
The record for that district is nine doctors in 13 years.