asked the Minister for Health, further to his reply to a Parliamentary question of 23rd May, 1972, if he is aware that all the patients in the Kilgarvan dispensary area are outside the limit of seven miles for the nearest participating doctors under the choice-of-doctor scheme and that the furthest eligible patient is 22 miles away from the nearest doctor; whether in 1968 he received a request from Kerry County Council Health Authority requesting that the Kilgarvan dispensary position be made a permanent appointment; whether the resident temporary district medical officer has all the necessary post-graduate qualifications for permanent appointment; and if, in view of the widespread concern amongst patients in the dispensary area, he will immediately sanction the appointment of a permanent dispensary medical officer in Kilgarvan.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kerry Medical Officer.
The Kerry County Council in 1968 requested the filling of the post of district medical officer in Kilgarvan on a permanent basis but, in accordance with the general policy, this proposal was deferred. As I indicated in my reply of 23rd May, it is now a matter for the Southern Health Board to consider the needs of this area in the context of the new arrangements.
Has the Minister any comment to make on the fact that the temporary DMO in Kilgarvan, who has been there for approximately three years, indicated he was going to move to Clonakilty and did not have his name entered on the choice-of-doctor list for the area? Can the Minister state if the Southern Health Board would be in a position under articles 43, 44 and 45 of the explanatory memorandum of the GMS to guarantee this medical officer's salary for 2½ years, with provision for a review after two years, or not later than six months prior to the expiration of that agreement? If so, would they communicate with the temporary DMO with a view to his staying on? This doctor has served this area for three years——
We cannot allow a discussion on this matter at Question Time.
He has spent a considerable amount of his income on decorating and furnishing the dispensary residence. There is a population of approximately 1,200 in Kilgarvan and the dispensary area is 22 miles approximately.
I have pointed out to the Deputy that we cannot have a debate on this matter.
I will tell the Deputy, and all the Deputies in this House, that I am not going to interfere with the arrangements of the health boards in examining the position of district medical officers with regard to the choice-of-doctor scheme. I am not going to interfere with their individual decisions. In every month of this year I shall meet with the chief executive officers to discuss how the scheme is proceeding generally. I do not intend to run the regional health boards in their executive work. Will all Deputies please recognise that we will have meetings with the chief executive officers at regular intervals to see how the scheme is proceeding? I do not propose to answer the Deputy with regard to his question.
May I ask the Minister——
I would point out to the Deputy that we have 136 Questions to deal with. Will he please allow the House to proceed with Questions?
I have only asked two supplementary questions.
The Deputy made a very long speech. I am calling Question No. 7.
May I ask one final supplementary? The matter to which I have referred is an urgent one. The temporary DMO has indicated——
The chief executive officer of the Southern Health Board is quite capable of dealing with this matter.
Will the Minister communicate with him?
I will not communicate with him. The chief executive officer of the Southern Health Board is quite capable of dealing with this matter. I happen to know that it is being settled. I am telling this to the Deputy in order to stop him talking.