asked the Minister for Health if he will arrange for the reappointment of a paediatrician and the appointment of a consultant obstetrician-gynaecologist at the County Hospital, Roscommon; and if he will make a statement on these appointments.
Written Answers. - Roscommon Hospital Consultant Staff.
23.
The regulation of the number and type of consultant medical staff in hospitals engaged in the provision of services under the 1970 Health Act is a function of Comhairle na n-Ospidéal.
The appointment of a replacement paeditrician for Roscommon County Hospital was considered by the comhairle at a meeting on 22 November, 1985. Having considered all the factors involved the comhairle decided that the application should be refused on the grounds that:— (i) as a matter of policy, the comhairle does not support the concept of single-handed consultant appointments in situations where the potential for a second appointment does not exist, and (ii) the policy of the comhairle, as set out in its 1979 publication on the "Development of Hospital Paediatric Services" is to develop general paediatric services in parallel with maternity-neo-natal units.
In respect of the consultant obstetrician-gynaecologist post I do not have available to me the additional funds which would be necessary to provide a full obstetric service at the hospital. In any event I am not satisfied that such a development could now be justified having regard to the fact that full consultant staffed obstetric services, which are capable of catering for Roscommon mothers, are already available in the Western Health Board area.
Question No. 27 to be resubmitted.