Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 9 Jun 1998

Vol. 492 No. 1

Written Answers. - Consultant Appointments.

Bernard Allen

Question:

144 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason the percentage of new consultant appointments to the Southern Health Board area is 5 per cent while the rest of the country has a 14 per cent to 25 per cent rate of appointments. [13582/98]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

It is a matter in the first instance for the Southern Health Board to decide its priority requirements in relation to staffing, including consultant posts, having regard to its financial determination and the service needs of its catchment population.

However, I have made inquiries of the board and Comhairle na nOspidéal who are statutorily responsible for the approval of consultant appointments in the country.

The Southern Health Board has informed me that following the review of hospital services by Kevin Kenny and the review of consultant manpower by Comhairle na nOspidéal, a pan-hospital approach was adopted in the region with a view to co-ordinating and agreeing the consultant requirements for the region. I am informed by the Southern Health Board that since the publication of the Kenny report 12 new consultant posts and 12 replacements consultant posts have been filled permanently in the region. In addition, 13 new and replacement consultant posts are in the process of being filled.

I should also point out that comparisons other than measuring the number of additional consultant posts can indicate the level of development of services within the Southern Health Board region. For example funding to the Southern Health Board has increased by 135 per cent and overall staffing in the board has increased by 17 per cent in the last decade which is, I assume, the same period referred to by the Deputy in his question.