Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 28 Jun 2000

Vol. 522 No. 3

Written Answers. - Hospital Services.

Alan M. Dukes

Question:

58 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Medical Council has refused to give accreditation for temporary registered doctors in the accident and emergency department and in anaesthesia at Naas General Hospital, County Kildare; the reason the hospital has failed to recruit an additional two consultant anaesthetists as required by the council 15 months ago; and if he regards the current situation, which will place lives of patients at risk, as satisfactory. [18406/00]

Alan Shatter

Question:

117 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Medical Council has refused to give verification for temporary registered doctors in the accident and emergency department and in anaesthesia at Naas General Hospital; the reason the hospital has failed to recruit an additional two consultant anaesthetists as required by the council 15 months ago; and if he regards the current situation, which could place lives of patients at risk, as satisfactory. [18398/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 58 and 117 together.

Officials of my Department have contacted the Medical Council and the Eastern Regional Health Authority in relation to this matter. I will write to the Deputy on receipt of the information.

Michael D. Higgins

Question:

59 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children if, in view of the number of people currently on hospital waiting lists, he will ensure that operating theatres and hospital wards are kept open during the summer months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18536/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

It is my intention to pursue continual reductions in waiting lists and waiting times for hospital treatment. In this context, following a series of discussions with the chief executive officers of the health boards, I recently announced a £10 million initiative aimed at maximising available capacity in the system to enable an additional 7,600 waiting list procedures to be performed before the end of the year. This funding will be allocated on the basis of the performance of each agency in reaching the activity targets they have agreed. The proposals to be funded are based on a series of innovative measures including use of facilities during the traditional summer closures period, cross-contracting arrangements between agencies and from the private sector, extended theatre and ward opening times, extended weekend work and the contracting of activity from hospitals in Northern Ireland.

These short-term measures are being taken in tandem with longer term measures associated with the £2 billion investment under the national development plan, the ongoing implementation of the recommendations of the expert review group on the waiting list initiative and the national bed capacity review now under way. It is my intention to continue to take all available steps to address the short and longer term issues associated with lengthy waiting lists and waiting times.