Vol. 512 No. 6
239 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans, if any, he has to drop his proposals for a category 3 grade consultant position in favour of a plan to double the number of consultants over the next number of years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26784/99]
263 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the proposals, if any, he has to redraft the Buckley contract and amalgamate categories 1 and 2 consultant posts into a single new consultant contract. [27031/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 239 and 263 together.
The Medical Manpower Forum is considering the question of the future staffing of hospitals and will issue an interim report by the end of January. It is anticipated that the parties to the forum will be able to agree on a series of principles which will shape the future of our hospital services.
The parties represented on the forum are agreed on the need to change the way our hospitals are organised and staffed so as to provide patients with access to suitably qualified and experienced medical personnel as required. Against that background there is an identifiable need for more consultants to be appointed. However there is also a clear need to have consultants available on a more flexible basis to cover periods of duty presently covered by NCHDs. All parties recognise that this will require changes in certain aspects of existing contracts.
