asked the Minister for Health the number of new consultant appointments to each health board since 14 December 1982; and the number of established posts which have become vacant and have not been filled.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Consultant Appointments.
4.
I propose to set out the information requested by the Deputy in respect of new consultant appointments to the health boards since 14 December 1982 and vacant replacement posts in tabular form as follows:
Table 1
Number of new consultant appointments to each health board — 14 December 1982 to 31 December 1985
Health Boards
|
Area |
Approved |
|
East |
5 |
|
South East |
5 |
|
North East |
1 |
|
Midlands |
4 |
|
Mid-West |
3 |
|
South |
4 |
|
West |
1 |
|
North West |
2 |
Table 2
Number of vacant replacement posts in each health board
Health Boards
|
Area |
Number |
|
East |
1 |
|
South East |
6 |
|
Midlands |
1 |
|
Southern |
13 |
|
Mid-West |
2 |
|
West |
2 |
|
North West |
1 |
|
North East |
4 |
In the south eastern area there were five approved and the vacant replacements in that area amount to six.
That are presently outstanding?
Yes.
Has the number of vacancies anything to do with the embargo placed by his own Minister for the Public Service? Has any consideration been given to the possibility of transferring funds from one hospital to another, or one health board to another, in order to facilitate the appointment of badly needed consultants? As an exmember of Comhairle na nOspidéal, I saw situations where applications were funded by the Department of Health for a seventh radiologist in a Dublin voluntary hospital and in my own region of the south east there are single-handed radiologists, single-handed obstertrician-gynaecologists and many other single-handed positions, which no Department could stand over. Is there any possibility of transferring funds?
The new consultant radiologist appointment in the south east, to Ardkeen Hospital, was given approval on 28 January 1983. Again, in relation to the south east——
There have been applications in since 1979 for radiologists and obstetricians——
I beg your pardon?
There have been applications in since 1979 for a second radiologist for both Kilkenny and Wexford and these appointments still have not been approved. These were sanctioned by Comhairle na nOspidéal.
Regarding the vacant replacement posts in the south east, of the placement posts vacant since December 1972 the post of anaesthetist in Clonmel has now been filled on a temporary basis. Similarly, an anaesthetist position in Wexford has been filled on a temporary basis. A chief psychiatrist post is vacant in St. Otteran's. The local appointments committee were not able to recommend a candidate there. Regarding the post of chief psychiatrist to St. Luke's Hospital, a candidate was recommended in May 1985. Finally, with regard St. Dympna's Hospital, the LAC recommended a candidate for a psychiatrist post in January 1986 and a chief psychiatrist——
Where did the Minister say?
This is mostly on the psychiatric and anaesthetist side.
In St. Dympna's?
Yes. There is not radiologist on that list.
I restate my supplementary question. Is there any possibility that the Department of Health would consider the transferring of funds from less critical areas to areas in which posts badly need to be filled?
I would be quite sympathetic to that. I have tried very hard to facilitate the south east. For example, recently we asked that health board for their updated proposals regarding the appointment of a paediatrician for the area, particularly with regard to the demand in Wexford which was understandable because there is a definite need. I would be quite prepared to discuss the matter with the Deputy and the South Eastern Health Board. At present it is mostly on the psychiatric and the anaesthetist side that the vacancies are. There are six vacancies — two anaesthetists and four psychiatrists.
Is the Minister aware of the scarcity of anaesthetists especially in the North Eastern Health Board area, which is having a serious effect on the services? Proper use cannot be made of the services because of the lack of additional anaesthetists.
I want to make it clear that this question was not treated as having been answered by a tabular statement and, therefore, the rule about supplementary questions did not apply. I would point out that we have dealt with only four questions in 20 minutes and I suggest that we can make more progress than that.