Vol. 428 No. 3
89 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Health his views on the recommendation of the second Commission on the Status of Women that he should review the present system of short term contracts for non-consultant hospital doctors, and the exceptionally long working hours frequently required of junior hospital doctors.
All non-consultant hospital doctor (NCHD) posts are considered to be training posts. Existing postgraduate training programmes require that NCHDs spend periods gaining experience in a range of specialities in different hospitals. Many NCHDs are in structured programmes which involve rotating through a number of posts over a two to three year period. The system of employing NCHDs on six month and one year contracts arises from meeting these requirements.
A study group comprising representatives of my Department, Comhairle na nOspidéal and the Postgraduate Medical and Dental Board is at present examining medical manpower needs. A major issue under examination is the balance between the number of consultant posts and the number of training posts. Any change in this balance has implications for both the number of doctors in training and the system of training. I expect to receive a copy of the group's interim report in the coming weeks and I hope to circulate it as a discussion document to all the bodies with an interest in this area.
