asked the Minister for Health if he will arrange for the appointment of a district medical officer for the Ahascragh dispensary district, County Galway to meet the needs of the eligible persons in the area.
166.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Appointment of Dispensary Doctors.
165.
asked the Minister for Health if it is the intention to appoint a dispensary doctor to Ahascragh, County Galway; and, if so, when.
With your permission, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 165 and 166 together.
I presume that the questions refer to the appointment of a resident district medical officer. I understand that the health authority has been unsuccessful in appointing a doctor who would be prepared to reside within the dispensary district. A service for eligible persons is, however, being provided by a doctor who is resident in a nearby area.
I am sure the Minister is aware there is no resident doctor in Ahascragh at the moment. The main reason this question has been put down is to find out from the Department of Health if it is their intention to appoint any permanent dispensary doctors in County Galway in future. Ahascragh is one of the places in question.
There are several areas in the country in which a new appointment to a dispensary district on a permanent basis will not be made because of the proposed choice of doctor legislation which the Minister has promised for this session.
I am in this House approximately four years. During that time I have been in touch with the Department of Health regarding different dispensary areas in County Galway, and at all times I have received the same reply about impending legislation. That is not much good for people who are waiting for a dispensary doctor. There are about 12 areas in County Galway where there is no resident dispensary doctor.
The Deputy is making a statement.
The Chair will appreciate my position. I am trying to get some information from the Minister.
It is quite true that the suspension of permanent appointments throughout the country as well as in Galway has meant that these areas have had temporary appointments until such time——
Temporary appointments and no appointments at all in many cases.
——as the legislation will be brought into effect. It has meant that in some areas temporary doctors were not available. There are quite a number of areas where people are dependent on the services of a doctor in an adjoining dispensary area. These appointments are held up until the legislation is passed and until all the consultations on which it will be based have been completed. It is regrettable that this has to happen but it is one of the things that happens when you make a big change.
We have been hearing for so long about the new health legislation, could the Minister give any indication as to when it will come?
I have already answered that question.
The Minister does not know?
It is not possible to name a precise date.
After the general election?
Well before it.
167.
asked the Minister for Health if, in view of the failure of the Local Appointments Commission to get a doctor for Nobber dispensary district, he will try to have the post filled by other means such as under section 5 of the Local Authority (Officers and Employees) Act, 1926.
The appointment of a permanent district medical officer to fill the present vacancy in Nobber dispensary district cannot be made otherwise than through the Local Appointments Commission.
The Local Appointments Commissioners held a competition earlier this year to fill the vacancy. It was hoped up to a few weeks ago that an appointment would be made, but in the event, the competition proved abortive. The Commissioners have already re-advertised with a view to holding a further competition for the filling of the vacancy.
I am sorry the Minister for Health is not here——
So am I.
——because he is aware that this vacancy has been advertised by the Appointments Commission on about four occasions and that on only two occasions was there any offer of people who sought the appointment. Is the Minister aware that the Appointments Commission have said that they are unable to fill the vacancy? In view of the fact that less than a fortnight ago a woman nearly bled to death in the area because a doctor could not be found, would the Minister not agree that some of the doctors who would take the position, if they could be appointed otherwise than through the Appointments Commission, should be appointed?
I do not think it can be done under the legislation. The only way it could be done is by the local authority, within three months of the office being declared vacant, but the three months have passed now.
We do not mind declaring it vacant again.
Is the Minister aware that lives are at stake? I should like to ask that this matter be specially investigated because there seems to be a hoodoo about Nobber. They cannot get a doctor for a long number of years.
What county is it in?
It was in County Meath but now it is in Monaghan.
Doctors have gone there but have not stayed there.
No, the last doctor was there for several years.
Doctors who applied for it subsequently refused to take it.
Under section 5 of the 1926 Act, if a temporary doctor is appointed and acts for a short time and the office is then declared vacant, may not a permanent doctor be appointed by the local authority?
Within three months, but I think he must be transferred from another area.
No, there are two doctors who will take it in those circumstances if they can be guaranteed permanent appointment.
As far as I remember, under section 5, a doctor from another dispensary who is already in the service could be appointed. I am not quite sure if there is another way.
He could be promoted in by the local authority.
I do not want to hold up the business of the House, but as this is such a serious matter would the Minister ask his colleague, with whom I have discussed it personally, to try, as a result of the question now, to get the Appointments Commission to recommend somebody if a name does come up this year and not next June or July, which is the usual procedure?
I shall ask him to speed up the procedure, although whether he can do anything to get the doctor to stay there is another matter.
168.
asked the Minister for Health whether a resident doctor has been, or will be, appointed to Woodstown dispensary district in County Waterford.
A competition for permanent district medical officer appointments in a number of dispensary districts, including Woodstown, was held recently by the Local Appointments Commission. I understand that the Commissioners have sent a recommendation to the Waterford Health Authority for the filling of the Woodstown post.
169.
asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the continuing hardship endured by the people of Ballingarry, Thurles, dispensary district, County Tipperary from the lack of a permanent dispensary doctor; and what steps he has taken to resolve the problem.
I am aware that the health authority is unable to appoint a resident doctor, temporarily, for the Ballingarry Dispensary District, pending the making of a permanent appointment through the Local Appointments Commission. Meanwhile, however, a service is being provided for the district by a private practitioner from a nearby area.
The Local Appointments Commission is at present holding a competition for the permanent appointment. A competition earlier this year was unsuccessful. The candidates in the present competition are to be interviewed next week. The result of the competition should be known early in the new year.
I understand that the health authority is in the process of purchasing the house of the former district medical officer in Ballingarry and will make it available for a resident doctor. The health authority intends to renovate the house, including the dispensary, which forms part of it.