Vol. 424 No. 5
123 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement on the recent report in the Irish Medical News dated 12 October 1992 that patients in Ireland are often treated from admission to discharge by unsupervised and untrained junior doctors; if he will investigate this very serious allegation which affects the health and lives of the public; and if he will establish ground rules on consultant supervision standards which will ensure the safety of patients.
All patients admitted to a public hospital for diagnosis or treatment are placed under the responsibility of an appropriate consultant. Patients may be treated by the consultant and/or by other medical staff as appropriate. The consultant is personally responsible for the care and treatment of the patient for as long as the patient remains in his care. This responsibility cannot be delegated to any other person. The allegations made in the report referred to by the Deputy are not specific and I cannot be expected to investigate unsupported allegations of such a general nature.
The revised consultants' contract provides specific mechanisms designed to help ensure that consultants fulfil the commitments they are contracted to provide. Each consultant must prepare and agree with his employer a practice plan which includes a schedule outlining how his commitment is to be discharged.
