Vol. 421 No. 8
166 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health if he proposes to monitor the number of clinics being held in each health board hospital by consultants and the number of clinics where non-consultant hospital doctors substitute for consultants at the same clinics; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
167 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement on the way in which the situation arises whereby consultants do not attend their outpatient clinics in health board hospitals, especially in view of the fact that the only reason they should absent themselves from those clinics is through illness or annual leave.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 166 and 167 together.
Under the terms and conditions of the revised consultants contract, each consultant is required to submit a schedule of commitment to the employing authority. This will indicate the number of fixed sessions which will include out-patient clinics, which a consultant must fulfil except through emergency. I believe that this arrangement will overcome any problems that exist at present, but the situation will be kept under review.
