Batt O'Keeffe
Question:53 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if he will sanction the appointment of a sixth permanent orthopaedic surgeon in the Cork area to bring about a further improvement in the orthopaedic service. [1703/95]
Written Answers. - Appointment of Orthopaedic Surgeon.
Limerick East): The identification of consultant staffing needs in the Cork area is a matter for the Southern Health Board in the first instance. Proposals for the filling of new replacement permanent consultant posts are reviewed on a regular basis by my Department. This review is undertaken having regard to service and personnel criteria in the context of the priority afforded to each post by the agency concerned and with particular regard to the availability of financial resources. The Southern Health Board has submitted outline proposals to my Department in relation to the further development of orthopaedic services in Cork, including the establishment of a sixth post of consultant orthopaedic surgeon. The Southern Health Board has not, however, submitted a formal request for approval of this post to my Department.
The Deputy will be aware that in 1993 my Department approved the filling of a fifth consultant orthopaedic surgeon post at St. Mary's Orthopaedic Hospital/Cork University Hospital. I understand from the Southern Health Board that the appointee will be in place by the middle of this year. In addition, a locum consultant orthopaedic surgeon, who took up duty at the hospitals during the summer of 1994, will remain in place throughout 1995. I am confident that these developments, together with the new clean air theatres which came into operation at St. Mary's Orthopaedic Hospital in 1994, will greatly improve the service for orthopaedic patients in Cork.