Vol. 519 No. 6
50 Mr. Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny) asked the Minister for Health and Children if the decision of the Irish Medical Council, to ban all doctors except those coming from EU countries, will have a major impact on hospital services especially in hospitals outside of Dublin. [14388/00]
71 Mr. Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny) asked the Minister for Health and Children if the ban by the Irish Medical Council on doctors from the African and Asian bloc will deprive Irish hospitals of medical staff to cope with an already difficult situation. [14389/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 50 and 71 together.
The Medical Council has not decided to ban doctors from outside the European Union from working in Irish hospitals. It decided some years ago to introduce an examination for doctors outside the European Union seeking temporary registration in Ireland. Overseas doctors, EU and non-EU, account for about one-third of non-consultant hospital doctor posts. Health service employers and the Health Service Employers Agency are continuing to monitor the take-up of employment offers made to junior doctors. Hospitals are exploring all options in an effort to ensure all posts are filled. If some posts are unfilled, hospitals will be asked to ensure that, as far as possible, services will not be affected.
51 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Health and Children the contingency plans, if any, in place to ensure hospitals will not close down in July 2000 due to the shortage of both Irish and foreign non-consultant hospital doctors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13358/00]
66 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will guarantee that our anaesthetic services will fully and properly function in hospitals throughout the State after 1 July 2000; and his views on whether acute hospitals are facing serious problems in maintaining their anaesthetic services as and from that date. [14403/00]
70 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health and Children the assessment he has made of the possibility of shortages of non-consultant hospital doctors in July 2000; the preparations being made to ensure that all posts are filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14535/00]
86 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will guarantee that our anaesthetic services will fully and properly function in hospitals throughout the State after 1 July 2000; and his views on whether acute hospitals are facing serious problems in maintaining their anaesthetic services as and from that date. [14052/00]
144 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the contingency plans, if any, in place to ensure hospitals will not close down in July 2000 due to the shortage of both Irish and foreign non-consultant hospital doctors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14400/00]
145 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will guarantee that our anaesthetic services will fully and properly function in hospitals throughout the State after 1 July 2000; and his views on whether acute hospitals are facing serious problems in maintaining their anaesthetic services as and from that date. [14401/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 51, 66, 70, 86, 144 and 145 together.
Health service employers and the Health Service Employers Agency are continuing to monitor the take-up of employment offers made to non-consultant hospital doctors, NCHDs, for 1 July 2000. The situation is likely to remain fluid for a number of weeks to come as an NCHD may have an offer of employment from more than one hospital. Hospitals are exploring all options in an effort to ensure essential posts are filled. In the event that some posts remain unfilled, hospitals will be asked to ensure essential and critical services are not affected. I am confident that with full co-operation from all concerned, and a degree of imagination in making the best use of available resources, the effect on services can be minimised.
