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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 5 May 1970

Vol. 246 No. 4

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mental Hospital Medical Posts.

4.

asked the Minister for Health the total number of medical posts at present vacant in mental hospitals; and the reason for this.

5.

asked the Minister for Health what measures he proposes to take to fill the present large number of vacant medical posts in mental hospitals.

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take questions Nos. 4 and 5 together.

At present there are 15 permanent posts vacant in district mental hospitals but, as I indicated in a reply to Deputy Dr. Browne on 4th December, a number of posts are not filled in a permanent capacity. I also indicated in that reply the steps which had already been taken to improve recruitment to permanent posts. In addition, I am having discussions at present with managers and the Irish Medical Association and the Medical Union on further steps necessary to improve recruitment. The Deputy will appreciate that there are numerous reasons for the shortage of medical staff—a shortage that is not confined to this country.

The Minister says there are 15 vacant posts. What percentage is that of the total number of posts available in mental hospitals? How many non-specialist practitioners are in charge of mental hospitals?

I have not the reply to everything the Deputy has asked. There are 163 permanent posts. There are 15 vacant posts and there are some temporaries. As the Deputy may know from my previous observations on this matter, we are having all the necessary discussions on this question. The committee have met to examine the whole staffing structure, method of employment and undergraduate and postgraduate training of people in the psychiatric field. I cannot promise a great improvement in the very near future. If we examine all these recommendations and get agreement with the health authorities and the managers concerned, we ought to be able to make progress towards having a greater number of appointments.

When will the Minister be in a position to have this matter sorted out so as to have these mental hospitals properly staffed? Can he give some indication?

We have had the report of this committee. It has to be examined by the medical associations concerned. Then it has to be put to the health authorities. It may involve increases in remuneration and changes in conditions which, in turn, may affect other staffing structures. This is a matter of priority as far as I am concerned.

Why did the Minister emphasise the number of permanent posts? Are we not all well aware that the great bulk of the hospital posts are staffed on a non-permanent basis? How many non-permanent posts are vacant?

I have not got the figures prepared in that way.

The question did not mention anything about permanent posts but was in relation to the number of posts vacant. The majority of hospital posts in this country are nonpermanent.

There are a great number of non-permanent posts and that is why we are having the whole matter examined. There is a shortage of staff in other countries as well as in this country.

It is no good talking about other countries. The Minister is dealing with our problem here.

The world of psychiatry has a relevance to this country. The Deputy must not pretend that we can live in an isolated way.

May I ask the Minister if he will consider remuneration so that we do not have a brain drain?

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