asked the Minister for Health why the claim by representatives of district medical officers for a major change in the basis of granting them time off duty has not been conceded by the employing health authorities.
7.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - District Medical Officers.
6.
asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that medical officers do not get reasonable time off duty; and if he will have such steps as may be necessary taken, including the provision of funds to pay locums, to enable such doctors to have reasonable leisure and rest.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take questions Nos. 6 and 7 together.
The implementation of the claim by district medical officers for a change in the basis of granting time off duty depends on the ability of their employing local authorities to find the necessary additional staff to act as substitutes and to provide for the cost of these additional appointments. As to the present position in respect of the consideration of these matters, I would draw the Deputies' attention to my reply of 23rd October to similar questions.
Is the Minister aware that his predecessor gave an assurance to the medical profession that the £500,000 necessary for this would be provided? It was approved in principle by his predecessor, and in the light of that would he not now tell the county managers that they must accede to this request by the medical profession?
The officers of my Department and I are still discussing this matter with the medical union and the medical association in a friendly way.
Will the Minister not agree that in the meantime certain people may be deprived of essential medical services? What will happen those people?
I have not heard any evidence of people being deprived.
Is the Minister aware that the medical union have instructed their members not to supply in the case of medical card holders? They were reluctant to take this action but they had to take it because the county managers refused to meet them.
The county managers have met them.
The Minister stated that arrangements could not be made unless the local authority could arrange for substitutes. If that be so, can the Minister advance any reason why in the Dublin region, where there are so many doctors available and plenty of substitutes, this scheme designed to give overworked district medical officers time off has not yet been introduced? There is no difficulty certainly as far as substitutes are concerned in the Dublin region.
As I have said, we continue to discuss these matters with the medical union and we have made proposals for some possible compromise with regard to this and it is being considered by them. The question of cost does arise as well as the availability of doctors as indicated in my reply and I do not want to say any more about it because I am anxious to reach agreement if we possibly can.
Will the Minister say when we may expect him to issue his report?
No, I could not say.