asked the Minister for Health when the vacancy for a second physician will be filled at Monaghan Hospital; and if it is intended to appoint a second anaesthetist there.
Written Answers. - Monaghan Hospital Appointment.
271.
A candidate selected for appointment to the second physician post following a competition conducted by the Local Appointments Commission indicated last year that he did not wish to accept the appointment. The Department have recently written to the North-Eastern Health Board confirming that the post may be re-advertised and it is expected that a fresh competition will shortly take place.
Approval to a second post of consultant anaesthetist at Monaghan hospital is primarily a matter for Comhairle na nOspidéal. Under new procedures introduced by my Department the board submitted a report in June last year indicating the financial implications of the filling of a second post of anaesthetist at Monaghan hospital. As this involved additional funding by Department indicated that they would not be in a position to provide the additional resources. It is understood that the board have not yet submitted an application to the comhairle.