asked the Minister for Health what emergency measures he has in mind to rectify the serious situation which has developed amongst junior hospital doctors in view of the fact that many resignations are due to take effect shortly.
Private Notice Questions: - Junior Hospital Doctors.
asked the Minister for Health if having regard to the crisis in hospital services arising out of the resignations of medical interns and further threatened resignations he will state what steps are being taken to deal with the situation and particularly to ensure the safety and comfort of sick people in hospitals.
I have arranged to meet a joint deputation from the Irish Medical Association and the Medical Union on Thursday of this week to discuss the situation involving junior hospital doctors.
I am sure that the Deputies and the House will appreciate that it would be inappropriate for me to offer any further comment at this stage.
Could the Minister clarify as to whether the action being taken by the junior hospital doctors has, in fact, the backing of the IMA or the IMU?
I will be negotiating with the IMA and the IMU and it would be very inadvisable for me to say anything more at this stage. It might only make the position more difficult.
Would it be true to say that the action taken has nothing to do with the IMU or the IMA?
I do not wish to comment on that. The Deputy has seen the observations of the IMA and the IMU. Were I to comment such comment might reduce the chances of arranging a settlement. We should be able to arrange a settlement having regard to all the circumstances.
While appreciating the Minister's anxiety that a settlement will be arrived at on Thursday, can the Minister say what steps he is now taking to ensure, should a settlement not be reached, the safety and comfort of the sick and injured in hospital? As I understand the situation, some of the resignations are due to take effect from next Tuesday and, unless steps are taken to provide alternative medical care for people in hospital, a considerable amount of human suffering may occur.
In the event of these resignations being finalised we would naturally advise the hospitals to restrict admissions to emergency cases and to postpone admissions in cases in which surgery is not immediately necessary, together with taking whatever other steps are open to them to ensure that emergency cases can be catered for. We will give whatever advice is necessary if no settlement is reached. I can hardly believe there will not be a reasonable settlement.
On a point of information, may I ask the Minister if the allegation is true that this problem has been aggravated by the failure to implement the agreement made with the County Managers' Association on 18th March?
That does not arise.
As one who is about to meet both parties I could be regarded as giving a prejudiced view were I to interpret in any way the actual character of the negotiations or what happened with the county managers. It is much better if I say nothing at this moment.
Is it not true, judging by the headlines in this evening's papers, that hospitals all over the country are, in fact, taking the measures the Minister says he would advise them to take if the talks break down?
If, by any chance, some particular hospital failed to take appropriate measures, then my Department might be blamed; therefore, while recognising the intelligence of the administrators of the hospitals, it is better for me to give the departmental point of view as to what is absolutely essential should there be a breakdown in these negotiations. I would naturally expect every hospital to think of the measures I have indicated.
Deputy Desmond rose.
I have already allowed five supplementaries. The Deputy is not entitled to further supplementaries.
Would the Minister not consider meeting a subcommittee of these junior doctors and asking them to postpone action because, frankly, the statement the Minister has made does not give me, or anyone else, much hope that they will defer action.
That is a separate question.
Why should this body, known as the County and City Managers' Association, have so much power? Why should it?
That does not arise on the questions before the House.
It certainly does arise.
There are two Private Notice Questions and the Deputy's supplementary question does not arise on either of them. It is not relevant.